Viruses, including the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, redirect infected cell metabolism to their own purposes. After binding to its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the cell surface, the SARS-CoV-2 is taken up by receptor-mediated endocytosis ending in the acidic endolysosomal compartment. The virus hijacks the endosomal machinery leading to fusion of viral and endosomal membranes and release of the viral RNA into the cytosol. This mini-review specifically highlights the membrane lipid organization of the endosomal system focusing on the unconventional and late endosome/lysosome-specific phospholipid, bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP). BMP is enriched in alveolar macrophages of lung, one of the target tissue of SARS-CoV-2. This review details the BMP structure, its unsaturated fatty acid composition and fusogenic properties that are essential for the highly dynamic formation of the intraluminal vesicles inside the endosomes. Interestingly, BMP is necessary for infection and replication of enveloped RNA virus such as SARS-CoV-1 and Dengue virus. We also emphasize the role of BMP in lipid sorting and degradation, especially cholesterol transport in cooperation with Niemann Pick type C proteins (NPC 1 and 2) and with some oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP)-related proteins (ORPs) as well as in sphingolipid degradation. Interestingly, numerous virus infection required NPC1 as well as ORPs along the endocytic pathway. Furthermore, BMP content is increased during pathological endosomal lipid accumulation in various lysosomal storage disorders. This is particularly important knowing the high percentage of patients with metabolic disorders among the SARS-CoV-2 infected patients presenting severe forms of COVID-19.

包括新型冠状病毒SARS-CoV-2在内的病毒会将感染的细胞代谢重新定向到其自身目的。SARS-CoV-2与其细胞表面的受体血管紧张素转换酶2（ACE2）结合后，通过受体介导的内吞作用被吸收，并在酸性溶酶体区室中终止。该病毒劫持了内体机制，导致病毒膜和内体膜融合，并将病毒RNA释放到细胞质中。这篇小型综述特别强调了内体系统的膜脂质组织，重点是非常规和晚期内体/溶酶体特异性磷脂双（单酰基甘油）磷酸酯（BMP）。BMP富含肺的肺泡巨噬细胞，肺是SARS-CoV-2的目标组织之一。这篇评论详细介绍了BMP结构，它的不饱和脂肪酸组成和融合特性是内体内部腔内囊泡高度动态形成所必需的。有趣的是，BMP对于感染和复制包膜RNA病毒（如SARS-CoV-1和登革热病毒）是必需的。我们还强调了BMP在与Niemann Pick C型蛋白（NPC 1和2）以及一些与氧固醇结合蛋白（OSBP）相关的蛋白（ORP）以及与鞘脂降解。有趣的是，许多病毒感染都需要NPC1以及沿内吞途径的ORP。此外，在各种溶酶体贮积病的病理性内体脂质蓄积期间，BMP含量增加。