To identify new, more effective inhibitors that, together with the structural study of Mpro protease dimerization, represent a new approach to the development of effective therapies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The genome of betacoronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 encodes several non-structural proteins such as the main coronavirus protease (Mpro) and the papain-type protease (PLpro).
In view of previous studies of SARS-CoV virus, new, more potent inhibitors against the two SARS-CoV-2 protein cysteines are expected due to the similarity of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, and the protease structures of both viruses and the potency of previously developed inhibitors.
Principal Investigator: Antonio Romero (CIB)
