Drug targets for corona virus: A systematic review

Indian J Pharmacol. 2020 Jan-Feb;52(1):56-65. doi: 10.4103/ijp.IJP_115_20. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Abstract

The 2019-novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a major source of disaster in the 21th century. However, the lack of specific drugs to prevent/treat an attack is a major need at this current point of time. In this regard, we conducted a systematic review to identify major druggable targets in coronavirus (CoV). We searched PubMed and RCSB database with keywords HCoV, NCoV, corona virus, SERS-CoV, MERS-CoV, 2019-nCoV, crystal structure, X-ray crystallography structure, NMR structure, target, and drug target till Feb 3, 2020. The search identified seven major targets (spike protein, envelop protein, membrane protein, protease, nucleocapsid protein, hemagglutinin esterase, and helicase) for which drug design can be considered. There are other 16 nonstructural proteins (NSPs), which can also be considered from the drug design perspective. The major structural proteins and NSPs may serve an important role from drug design perspectives. However, the occurrence of frequent recombination events is a major deterrent factor toward the development of CoV-specific vaccines/drugs.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Middle East respiratory syndrome; drug targets; severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / chemistry
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry*

Substances

  • Viral Proteins