FIGURE 2.

Overview of the novel SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and potential molecular targets for repurposed anti-COVID-19 drugs undergoing clinical trial studies. SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the host cellular receptor (ACE2). Later, virion particles gain entry into the target cells and undergo endocytosis. Inside the cell, due to low endosomal pH, the virus capsid disintegrates and the virion genome is released in the cytoplasm for protein synthesis mechanism. After the release of genomic RNA, it undergoes translation and replication forming sub-genomic mRNAs. The latter translates into a variety of structural (S, E, M, and N) proteins and accessory proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). RNA genome and a variety of cellular proteins undergo the formation of a new virus particle in the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). Finally, the new virion particles are assembled and released via exocytosis for further pathogenesis. Re-proposed medications and their possible molecular targets against COVID-19 are depicted by bold lines.