The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is distinctly different from outbreaks caused by other coronaviruses: SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The differences in the rapid transmission and severity of human coronaviruses are due to the genetic composition of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 contains genes encoding non-structural proteins (NSPs), structural proteins, and accessory proteins. The NSPs are mainly involved in replication of the virus within the host and inhibition of the host defence system. Structural proteins are involved in viral entry and attachment to host cells, preservation of the core virion and elicit the majority of the immune response. The functions of the accessory proteins are largely unknown. Most focus has been given to structural proteins, especially the spike protein as the strongest vaccine candidate. However, the recent emergence of spike variants and their ability to rapidly transmit and escape neutralisation by vaccine-induced antibodies has threatened the global community. Meanwhile, recent studies of accessory proteins reveal their importance in viral pathogenesis. Hence, proper understanding of the functions of all unknown viral proteins is crucial to devise alternate antiviral strategies.

严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）引起的大流行与其他冠状病毒：SARS-CoV和中东呼吸综合症冠状病毒（MERS-CoV）引起的暴发明显不同。人类冠状病毒在快速传播和严重程度方面的差异是由于病毒的遗传组成所致。SARS-CoV-2包含编码非结构蛋白（NSP），结构蛋白和辅助蛋白的基因。NSP主要参与病毒在宿主内的复制和宿主防御系统的抑制。结构蛋白参与病毒进入和附着于宿主细胞，保留核心病毒粒子并引发大部分免疫反应。辅助蛋白的功能在很大程度上是未知的。大部分注意力集中在结构蛋白上，尤其是刺突蛋白是最强的候选疫苗。但是，最近出现的刺突变体及其通过疫苗诱导的抗体快速传播和逃逸中和的能力已威胁到国际社会。同时，最近对辅助蛋白的研究表明它们在病毒发病机理中的重要性。因此，正确理解所有未知病毒蛋白的功能对于设计替代性抗病毒策略至关重要。