Genetic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 M <sup>pro</sup> Reveals High Sequence and Structural Conservation Prior to the Introduction of Protease Inhibitor Paxlovid
Jonathan T. Lee, Qingyi Yang, Alexey V. Gribenko, B. Scott Perrin, Yuao Zhu, Rhonda D. Cardin, Paul Liberator, Annaliesa S. Anderson, Hao Li
Abstract
The recent authorization of oral severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antivirals, such as Paxlovid, has ushered in a new era of the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of new variants, as well as the selective pressure imposed by antiviral drugs themselves, raises concern for potential escape mutations in key drug binding motifs.
Topics & Concepts
VirologyCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Pandemic2019-20 coronavirus outbreakCoronavirusSequence (biology)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirusAuthorizationProteaseMutationBiologyComputational biologyMedicineGeneticsGeneEnzymeInfectious disease (medical specialty)Computer scienceComputer securityOutbreakPathologyDiseaseBiochemistrySARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Researchinterferon and immune responsesvaccines and immunoinformatics approaches