The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a boost in associated research. Scientists over the world are striving to identify potential therapeutic targets to treat COVID-19. In a similar attempt, researchers have studied the role of phosphatidic acid (PA) in the COVID-19 pathophysiology identifying it as a potential therapeutic target to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. The researchers have identified similarities between the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and SARS-CoV-2 replication within the host cells.
Although HCV is a flavivirus and SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus, the replication of their RNA involves the formation of double-membrane vescicles (DMVs). These DMVs are highly similar to those formed during autophagy. The role of proteins in the biogenesis of DMVs is well known; however, the role of lipids remains unknown. To overcome this, researchers studied and established that viral-host protein…
