Pre-Covid Era

TMPRSS2 performs a crucial role in the ACE2-mediated entry in human cells and pathogenesis of SARS-COV-2. This protein also facilitates entry of viruses into host cells by proteolytically cleaving and activating viral envelope glycoproteins. Viruses found to use this protein for cell entry include Influenza virus and the human coronaviruses HCoV-229E, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus).