ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-2 AS A RECEPTOR FOR THE SARS CORONAVIRUS

摘要

The present invention is based upon the identification of human angiotensin­converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) as a functional receptor for the SARS coronavirus. Transfection of cells with ACE-2 confers upon them the ability to support viral replication. In addition, assays performed using ACE-2 together with the S protein of the SARS virus or a fragment derived from the S protein can be used to identify inhibitors that block the interaction between virus and host cell.