Nucleic Acid-Based Technologies Targeting Coronaviruses

Trends Biochem Sci. 2021 May;46(5):351-365. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.11.010. Epub 2020 Nov 27.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently creating a global health emergency. This crisis is driving a worldwide effort to develop effective vaccines, prophylactics, and therapeutics. Nucleic acid (NA)-based treatments hold great potential to combat outbreaks of coronaviruses (CoVs) due to their rapid development, high target specificity, and the capacity to increase druggability. Here, we review key anti-CoV NA-based technologies, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), siRNAs, RNA-targeting clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR-Cas), and mRNA vaccines, and discuss improved delivery methods and combination therapies with other antiviral drugs.

Keywords: RNA-targeting CRISPR-Cas; antisense oligonucleotide (ASO); coronavirus (CoV); lipid-ASO nanomicelle; mRNA vaccines; siRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / genetics
  • COVID-19 / immunology
  • COVID-19 / metabolism
  • COVID-19 / therapy
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / genetics
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / immunology
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / therapeutic use
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Humans
  • RNA, Messenger* / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger* / immunology
  • RNA, Messenger* / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral* / genetics
  • RNA, Viral* / immunology
  • RNA, Viral* / metabolism
  • SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2* / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2* / metabolism

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral