COVID-19 virus uses heparan sulfate to get inside cells

(University of California - San Diego) UC San Diego researchers discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can't grab hold of cell receptor ACE2 without a carbohydrate called heparan sulfate, which is also found on lung cell surfaces -- disrupting that interaction with a repurposed drug may help treat COVID-19.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news