Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 New Host Protease Reduces Omicron Variant Infection: Study

MT-MMPs can cleave SARS-CoV-2 spike and a receptor protein ACE2, and facilitate spike-mediated fusion and the infection of SARS-CoV-2. HKU

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have discovered that membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMP) and disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) on cell membranes could guide SARS-CoV-2 invasion as intermediaries for invading cells, thus accelerating the infection.

They also confirmed that by accelerating the infection, inhibiting MMP can effectively fight against Omicron BA. 1.