Cyagen Thematic Compilation of Coronavirus: everything you need to know about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

About the Novel Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the reclassification of the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. With the rapid spread of the disease across the globe, countries worldwide have joined the war against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, for which, early prevention, control, and treatment may provide valuable tools against the pandemic. Currently, research and development of treatment is of the highest priority. In order to effectively address COVID-19 as a public health threat, we need an in-depth understanding of its infection and immune mechanisms.

As professional providers of animal models with a strong basis in social responsibility - since the outbreak, the R&D team at Cyagen has made every effort to develop animal models catered to the global SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 research initiative, helping to accelerate progress to the research breakthrough.

1. ACE2- The Hottest Coronavirus Target

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is known to interact with SARA-CoV as functional receptor, as well as SARS-CoV-2 and permit its initial cell entry, making it particularly important to explore its function. In addition to helping SARS-CoV-2 enter the host cell, ACE2 does play other essential roles:

Beyond Mediating Host Cell Entry of SARS-CoV-2: What Roles Does ACE2 Play?

2. Beyond ACE2: Additional Targets of Significance for Coronavirus ResearchAt present, the prevention and treatment of coronavirus is the most urgent issue for scientific and medical research. In addition to the ACE2 host receptor target, there are many other factors that play important roles in coronavirus invasion mechanisms.

2.1 The New Perspective for COVID-19 Research：Cytokine Storm

2.2 Beyond ACE2: Additional Targets of Significance for Coronavirus Research

Mouse Models	The Target’s Role in Viral Infections
DPP4 (Dipeptidyl peptidase-4) KO Mice cKO Mice Humanized Mice	Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) is the exo-peptidase that was found to be a coronavirus receptor; The direct and specific binding of MERS-CoV S1 with human DPP4 leads to the occurrence of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS); The structural characteristics of DDP4 binding with MERS-CoV RBD is helpful for us to understand the interaction between virus and receptor and guide the treatment of MERS-CoV infection towards the development of a vaccine.
APN (Aminopeptidase N) KOMice cKO Mice Humanized Mice	APN is associated with the infection of HCoV-229E coronavirus; It’s significant for the study of the host receptor mechanism for infection by the SARS-CoV-2.
TMPRSS2 (Transmembrane Serine Protease 2) KO Mice cKO Mice	The transmembrane protease TMPRSS2 participates in the fusion process of ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 membrane; TMPRSS2 is a synaptic protein that activates highly pathogenic hCoVs.
ADAM17 (ADAM Metallopeptidase Domain 17)	The binding of SARS-CoV S protein (SARS-S) and ACE2 triggers the cleavage of ACE2 by ADAM17, which helps ACE2 to fall into vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and promotes the entry of SARS-CoV into cells; ADAM17 was found to compete with the TMPRSS2 in the interaction with ACE2.
LY6E (Lymphocyte Antigen 6 Complex, Locus E) cKO Mice	LY6E is involved in the modulation of viral infection; LY6E can regulate cell signaling, including the host immune response, which is essential for defending against viral infections; LY6E inhibits CoV entry into cells by interfering with S protein-mediated membrane fusion.
SIGN/CD209L (Cluster of Differentiation 209)	Homozygous L-SIGN (CLEC4M) plays a protective role in SARS coronavirus infection; SARS coronavirus entry into host cells through the binding of hypermannan on the S protein and CD209L (L-SIGN) on the plasma membrane.
CD147 (Cluster of Differentiation 147)	SARS-CoV-2 invaded host cells via a novel route of CD147-spike (S) protein; CD147 may serve as a receptor on the host for the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, which participates in the interaction between the viruses and cells, thereby mediating the viral invasion; CD147 can be used as a critical target for development of specific antiviral drugs.
DHODH (Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase) cKO Mice	A novel and potent inhibitor of DHODH exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral characteristics against RNA viruses; RNA virus may be more sensitive to DHODH activity, DHODH plays a critical role in RNA virus replication process.

In addition to above targets, if you would like to order any other models related to the research of SARS-CoV-2, corroborating materials on its feasibility should be provided. Once approved by our experts, you may be offered a promotional price for your project.

3. How to Choose the Most Suitable Coronavirus Research Models

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a clear reminder that infectious diseases caused by human pathogenic viruses are still a huge threat to global public health and economic development. Continuous efforts to study the pathogenic mechanisms of such viruses, prevent the spread of viral infections, and develop new strategies for specific vaccines and antiviral drugs have been of paramount importance to the quick progress made against SARS-COV-2 infections and COVID-19.

The application of research animal models – such as inbred mice with clear genetic background, humanized mice with cell/tissue transplantation, and genetically engineered mice - not only helps to study the pathogenic mechanism of viruses, but further clarifies the role of specific genes in the development of infectious diseases. In addition, choosing the appropriate models can provide effective, convenient, and feasible platforms for in vivo experiments, providing relevant data for the evaluation of potential targets of value in the prevention and treatment of different viral pathologies.

Comparisons of both nucleic and amino acid sequences have confirmed a high similarity between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV (approximately 80% and 76%, respectively). Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the host through the human ACE2 receptor on the cell surface to initiate infection and causes clinical manifestations similar to SARS-CoV infection (though not exactly the same). Due to the similarities between these two viruses, the research on SARS-CoV may provide an important reference for SARS-CoV-2 research.

4. Cyagen Support for COVID-19 Research

Virus research still has a long way to go. In the war between humans and microorganisms, we ought to move forward together to understand our opponents more thoroughly. With the continuous exploration of science and technology, human civilization is destined to a brighter future.

Whether your research involves SARS-CoV-2 related gene targets or factors in other cellular processes, Cyagen can provide the relevant gene knockout, knock-in, conditional knockout, point mutation, and humanized mice models to help your research make breakthrough progress. If you would like more information about how we can support your research, please feel free to call 86 20-31601779 or email us at service-apac@cyagen.com for expert consultation at any time.

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