Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to two other coronaviruses that caused disease epidemic breakouts in humans in the last 2 decades, namely, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The similarities have enabled the scientists to apply the basic scientific discoveries garnered from studying the structure and modus operandi of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV to develop therapies that specifically target SARS-CoV-2 and to develop vaccines to prevent COVID-19. Targeted therapies including the use of antibodies to prevent virus entry, nucleotide analogues to prevent viral replication, and inhibitors of proteases to prevent virion formation, among others, are being tested for their clinical efficacy. Likewise, complete sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 and identification of its structural and nonstructural proteins have enabled development of RNA-, DNA-, and peptide-based vaccines as well attenuated viral vaccines to instigate the host-immune responses. The clinical impacts of the basic science discoveries are amply evident on the rapid pace of progress in developing specific antiviral therapies and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The progress emphasizes the merit of discovering the fundamental scientific elements, regardless of whether or not they have apparent or immediate clinical applications.

冠状病毒病 19 (COVID-19) 是由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 引起的。SARS-CoV-2与过去20年在人类中引起疾病​​流行的另外两种冠状病毒密切相关，即严重急性呼吸窘迫综合征冠状病毒（SARS-CoV）和中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒（MERS-CoV）。这些相似之处使科学家们能够应用从研究 SARS-CoV 和 MERS-CoV 的结构和操作方式中获得的基本科学发现来开发专门针对 SARS-CoV-2 的疗法，并开发预防 COVID-19 的疫苗。靶向治疗包括使用抗体来防止病毒进入、使用核苷酸类似物来防止病毒复制以及使用蛋白酶抑制剂来防止病毒粒子形成等，正在测试其临床疗效。同样，对 SARS-CoV-2 进行完整测序并鉴定其结构和非结构蛋白，使得能够开发基于 RNA、DNA 和肽的疫苗以及减毒病毒疫苗，以激发宿主免疫反应。基础科学发现的临床影响在开发针对 SARS-CoV-2 的特定抗病毒疗法和疫苗的快速进展中非常明显。这一进展强调了发现基本科学要素的优点，无论它们是否具有明显或直接的临床应用。和基于肽的疫苗以及减毒病毒疫苗以激发宿主免疫反应。基础科学发现的临床影响在开发针对 SARS-CoV-2 的特定抗病毒疗法和疫苗的快速进展中非常明显。这一进展强调了发现基本科学要素的优点，无论它们是否具有明显或直接的临床应用。和基于肽的疫苗以及减毒病毒疫苗以激发宿主免疫反应。基础科学发现的临床影响在开发针对 SARS-CoV-2 的特定抗病毒疗法和疫苗的快速进展中非常明显。这一进展强调了发现基本科学要素的优点，无论它们是否具有明显或直接的临床应用。