Corona-virus-like particles comprising functionally deleted genomes

摘要

The invention relates to the field of coronaviruses and diagnosis, therapeutic use, and vaccines therefor. Methods are shown for at least in part inhibiting anti-parallel coiled coil formation of a coronavirus spike protein which methods include decreasing the contact between heptad repeat regions of the coronavirus spike protein. The invention provides a peptide comprising a heptad repeat region of a coronaviral spike protein and/or a functional fragment and/or a derivative thereof. The invention also provides antibodies and compounds inhibiting coronaviral infection of cells, and/or cell-to-cell fusion. The invention also includes heptad repeat regions and a fusion peptide of SARS-CoV.