Abstract
To combat the new virus currently ravaging the whole world, every possible anti-virus strategy should be explored. As the main strategy of targeting the virus itself is being frustrated by the rapid mutation of the virus, people are seeking an alternative “host targeting” strategy: neutralizing proteins in the human body that cooperate with the virus. The cathepsin family is such a group of promising host targets, the main biological function of which is to digest the extracellular matrix (ECM) to clear a path for virus spreading. To evaluate the potential of cathepsin as a host target, we have constructed a biosensing interface mimicking the ECM, which can detect cathepsin from 3.3 pM to 33 nM with the limit of detection of 1 pM. Based on our quantitative analysis enabled by this biosensing interface, it is clear that patients with background diseases such as chronic inflammation and tumor, tend to have higher cathepsin activity, confirming the potential of cathepsin to serve as a host target for combating COVID-19 virus.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, heparin, cathepsin, Extracellular matrix, Cu, 【초록키워드】 Mutation, virus, Protein, Patient, limit of detection, COVID-19 virus, chronic inflammation, Neutralizing, targets, disease, ECM, Quantitative analysis, new virus, Host, combating, detect, evaluate, mimicking, seeking, 【제목키워드】 Host,