RNA 2′-O-methylation modification and its implication in COVID-19 immunity

The recent outbreak of a novel human coronavirus infection (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a serious threat to public health, which has currently led to more than 25 million confirmed cases and more than 800 thousand deaths in 216 countries according to the World Health Organization ( www.who.int ). The current development of novel therapeutic and prophylactic approaches to SARS-CoV-2 infection could be categorized into at least four different strategies such as; (1) broad-spectrum antiviral agents, (2) drugs targeting the proinflammatory cytokines, (3) inhibitors of host cell proteases that participate in the priming of the viral spike protein, and (4) therapeutics targeting the virus–host interface linking the viral spike protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor in host cells 1 . Despite significant insights into SARS-CoV-2 replication, and virus–host interactions, there is currently no approved medications or vaccines that can cure or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.