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Translational Control of COVID-19 and Its Therapeutic Implication

Dejiu Zhang1, Lei Zhu2, Yin Wang1

  • 1Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.

Frontiers in Immunology
|April 15, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) hijacks host ribosomes to translate its own messenger RNA (mRNA), inhibiting host translation. Understanding these viral strategies may reveal new therapeutic targets for COVID-19 treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, continues to spread globally.
  • Limited effective treatments necessitate a deeper understanding of SARS-CoV-2 molecular mechanisms.
  • Viral replication relies on host ribosomes for translating viral mRNA.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding SARS-CoV-2 protein translation.
  • To elucidate how SARS-CoV-2 inhibits host mRNA translation.
  • To explore therapeutic potential targeting translational components.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of molecular biology studies on SARS-CoV-2.
  • Analysis of viral strategies for host translation inhibition.
  • Discussion of potential therapeutic targets.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 employs strategies to globally inhibit host mRNA translation.
  • This inhibition allows preferential translation of viral mRNA using host machinery.
  • Viral strategies also interfere with the cellular innate immune response.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding SARS-CoV-2 translation is crucial for controlling the virus.
  • Targeting translational components presents a promising therapeutic avenue.
  • Further research into host-viral interactions during translation is warranted.
Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2inhibitorinterferontranslation

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