Figure 1 from: Senapati S, Dash J, Sethi M, Chakraborty S (2020) Bioengineered probiotics to control SARS-CoV-2 infection. Research Ideas and Outcomes 6: e54802. https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.6.e54802

<p>Figure 1 Bioengineered probiotics to control SARS-CoV-2 infection. (a) Pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 depends on interaction between S protein of virus and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expressed on the surface of host cells. (b (1)) Engineered probiotics with expression of cell bound ACE2, sequesters the virus by making it bind to the ACE2 receptor on its surface thus inhibiting the viral entry into gut epithelial cells. (b (2)) The secreted form of ACE2 (sACE2) produced by probiotics confiscates the virus by binding to S proteins and masking their binding sites for gut epithelial ACE2. (c) The sACE2 could also have systemic effects due to its absorption into circulation and inhibiting the virus binding at distant organs like lungs.</p>