ACE-2; an Entry Receptor for SARS-CoV-2

The new coronavirus, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes an infectious disease called coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This disease is highly contagious, and it damages organs due to the high affinity of Spike protein for the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cell receptor, which is highly expresses in organs such as the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, brain, and bladder. These organs seems a probable host for the virus although the main target tissue of the virus is the lungs. In general, the virus enters the host cell by Spike protein, which it is a good candidate for the vaccine design. Inhibition or blockade of ACE2 receptors using antibodies that neutralize this receptor can be a hope to prevent the virus from invading the cell and causing damage.