A glance on anti-viral strategy target Coronavirus life cycle

Coronavirus (CoV), is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus, which is characterized by a coronal-shaped spinous process on its surface and is the largest known RNA virus. Recently, the new outbreak of CoV was first found in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019, however, the infection is worldwide and causing high pathogenicity and mortality rates, especially in the aged population. Unfortunately, there is no available strategy to control the infection or treat patients. By reviewing the life cycle of CoV infection in host cells, including: virion attachment and entry, genome transcription and replication, and virion assembly and release, we focused on the role of viral proteins in the viral life cycle and summarized how their function could be targeted for the prevention/therapy of CoV. Thus, this information would pave the way to precisely design the antiviral drug component/vaccine against CoVs.