Tricking the novel coronavirus with a fake “handshake”

Fool the novel coronavirus once and it can’t cause infection of cells, new research suggests. Scientists have developed protein fragments that bind to the Spike protein, effectively tricking the virus into “shaking hands” with a replica rather than the receptor that lets the virus into a cell.

Previously, scientists have determined that entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells occurs through a receptor on the cell surface, known as ACE2. But the McMaster-Waterloo team has found that the ACE2 receptor is at very low levels in human lung tissue.

Previously, scientists have determined that entry of SARS-CoV-2 into cells occurs through a receptor on the cell surface, known as ACE2. But the McMaster-Waterloo team has found that the ACE2 receptor is at very low levels in human lung tissue.