HCoVDB: a comprehensive database encompassing viral genomes, drug targets, and therapeutics of human coronaviruses

Over the past few decades, coronavirus outbreaks have been reported globally. To date, seven human coronaviruses have been identified, among which only SARS-CoV-2 has been extensively studied, resulting in the development of several approved antiviral drugs. To effectively combat both current and emerging coronaviruses, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive database that consolidates information on all known human coronaviruses and their potential antiviral compounds. In response, we present HCoVDB—a comprehensive database that integrates genomic data, viral proteins, and antiviral agents with demonstrated in vitro or in vivo activity against the seven human coronaviruses. Compared to existing coronavirus databases, HCoVDB offers three distinctive features: (i) a curated collection and annotation of over 4 million genomic sequences from all seven human coronaviruses, including key amino acid substitutions that influence viral fitness, drug resistance, and immune evasion; (ii) a protein–drug docking platform for predicting the binding interactions of antiviral agents with demonstrated activity; and (iii) an extensive compilation of antiviral agents, along with their chemical properties and antiviral efficacy profiles (IC50, EC50, or CC50) as reported in the literature. Overall, HCoVDB provides a valuable resource for tracking the evolutionary dynamics of coronaviruses and accelerating the development of broad-spectrum antiviral agents against coronavirus infections in the future. Database URL: http://hcovdb.denglab.org/