When researchers pitted those same human proteins against three viruses \u2014 SARS-CoV-1, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and a seasonal coronavirus \u2014 they found that 17 of the proteins were used across the board. Two of them were identified as especially promising drug targets.<\/p>\n
The paper includes what scientists describe as early proof of concept in mice that a certain drug class could work.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines<\/a>, a nonprofit drug discovery division of Scripps Research, is in the early stages of harnessing the new research and developing associated therapies, according to Sumit Chanda, a professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research and co-senior author of the study.<\/p>\n Rather than focusing on the antiviral medications that target the virus itself, the study\u2019s approach focuses on how the virus interacts with the host.<\/p>\n According to Scripps Research, the team used genome-wide small interfering RNA, or siRNA, screening to find out which proteins SARS-CoV-2 relies on. Researchers were able to individually inhibit human genes in cells and thus discover which of the 20,000 genes in the human body the virus needs in order to replicate.<\/p>\n Chanda said it\u2019s important to take a precise approach to COVID-19 care and develop next-generation treatments.<\/p>\n \u201cAll viruses come from someplace,\u201d Chanda said. \u201cThey\u2019re not made out of nothing, they evolve from other coronaviruses. So if you\u2019re hitting all existing coronaviruses, chances are you\u2019re going to be hitting future coronaviruses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe virus was sequenced very early in the pandemic, but that only gave us half the picture,\u201d he added. \u201cThe other half of the picture is the human genes the virus uses for its replication. So now we have the other half of the picture.\u201d<\/p>\n Chanda couched the significance of the study and further research in the context of changing recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations<\/a> and COVID case rates. Federal health officials decided this month not to recommend the shots as a routine step for nearly all Americans and instead leave the decision to individuals, preferably after seeking medical advice.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LJL-L-CORONAVIRUS-PROTEINS-02.jpg\")
A microscope image of human epithelium cells, in blue, infected with SARS-CoV-2, in red, demonstrates the virus spreading from cell to cell. (Laura Martin-Sancho)<\/p>\n