ArticleCell2020
SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and Is Blocked by a Clinically Proven Protease Inhibitor.
20 registry-linked trialsOpen access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph
Article in Cell, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 20 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 11,949 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
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11,949citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
472.5field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11,949 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21,183 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Current risk factors for male infertility and semen parameters: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.Asian journal of andrology · 2026Pooled it
- Bovine coronavirus enters PBIECs via membrane fusion and clathrin-, caveolin-mediated endocytosis, macropinocytosis.Virulence · 2026Article
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- The conserved QTQTX motif in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is dispensable for cleavage and lung cell entry of the emerging variant BA.3.2.Journal of virology · 2026Article
- Cardiovascular Disease as a Risk Amplifier of COVID-19 Severity and a Potential Correlations to Long-Term Gastrointestinal Sequelae.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2026Article
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11,889 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 8 institutions in 3 countries.
Markus HoffmannInfection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany. Electronic address: mhoffmann@dpz.eu.
Hannah Kleine-WeberInfection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Simon SchroederCharité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany.
Nadine KrügerInstitute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany; Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Tanja HerrlerBG Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Germany.
Sandra ErichsenInstitute for Biomechanics, BG Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Germany; Institute for Biomechanics, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Tobias S SchiergensBiobank of the Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
Georg HerrlerInstitute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Nai-Huei WuInstitute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Andreas NitscheRobert Koch Institute, ZBS 1 Highly Pathogenic Viruses, WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging Infections and Biological Threats, Berlin, Germany.
Marcel A MüllerCharité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany; Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.
Christian DrostenCharité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Virology, Berlin, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research, associated partner Charité, Berlin, Germany.
Stefan PöhlmannInfection Biology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Biology and Psychology, University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. Electronic address: spoehlmann@dpz.eu.
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation · DEBerufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau · DECharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin · DEGerman Primate Center · DELudwig-Maximilians-Universität München · DERobert Koch Institute · DESechenov University · RUUniversity of Göttingen · DE
Funding
German Research Foundation
Abstract
The recent emergence of the novel, pathogenic SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China and its rapid national and international spread pose a global health emergency. Cell entry of coronaviruses depends on binding of the viral spike (S) proteins to cellular receptors and on S protein priming by host cell proteases. Unravelling which cellular factors are used by SARS-CoV-2 for entry might provide insights into viral transmission and reveal therapeutic targets. Here, we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 uses the SARS-CoV receptor ACE2 for entry and the serine protease TMPRSS2 for S protein priming. A TMPRSS2 inhibitor approved for clinical use blocked entry and might constitute a treatment option. Finally, we show that the sera from convalescent SARS patients cross-neutralized SARS-2-S-driven entry. Our results reveal important commonalities between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV infection and identify a potential target for antiviral intervention.
Indexed as
Ammonium ChlorideAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsAntibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralBetacoronavirusCell LineCoronavirusCoronavirus InfectionsCOVID-19COVID-19 SerotherapyDrug DevelopmentEstersGabexateGuanidinesHumans(3-ethoxycarbonyloxirane-2-carbonyl)leucine (3-methylbutyl) amideACE2 protein, humanAmmonium ChlorideAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Antibodies, NeutralizingAntibodies, ViralcamostatEstersGabexateGuanidinesLeucinePeptidyl-Dipeptidase AProtease InhibitorsReceptors, VirusSerine EndopeptidasesSpike Glycoprotein, Coronavirusspike glycoprotein, SARS-CoVTMPRSS2 protein, humanACE2coronavirusCOVID-19entryneutralizationprimingSARS-CoV-2spikeTMPRSS2
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Registered trials
NCT04338009ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT04340349ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT04352400ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT04362059ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT04378244ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT04388631ClinicalTrials.gov
and 14 more above
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.