Immune evasion of SARS-CoV-2 from interferon antiviral system

The on-going pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to unprecedented medical and socioeconomic crises. Although the viral pathogenesis remains elusive, deficiency of effective antiviral interferon (IFN) responses upon SARS-CoV-2 infection has been recognized as a hallmark of COVID-19 contributing to the disease pathology and progress. Recently, multiple proteins encoded by SARS-CoV-2 have been shown to act as potential IFN antagonists with diverse possible mechanisms. Here, we summarize and discuss the strategies of SARS-CoV-2 for evasion of innate immunity (particularly the antiviral IFN responses), understanding of which will facilitate not only the elucidation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis but also the development of antiviral intervention therapies. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Research Network of Computational and Structural Biotechnology.

Automated summary

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to unprecedented medical and socioeconomic crises, with viral proteins showing potential antagonistic effects against IFN responses. Understanding the strategies used by SARS-CoV-2 to evade innate immunity, particularly the antiviral IFN responses, will not only help elucidate the infection and pathogenesis, but also aid in the development of antiviral intervention therapies.