Researchers in the US have found a potential therapeutic treatment for SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, along with other coronaviruses. Pathogenic coronaviruses are a major threat to international public health, as shown by the SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, along with the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2.

All these coronavirus 3C-like proteases, called 3CLpro, are strong therapeutic targets because they play vital roles in coronavirus replication, '' the researchers stated.

"Vaccine developments and treatments are the biggest targets in COVID-19 research, and therapy is actually key," explained Kyeong-Ok Chang, a professor at Kansas State University in the US.

"This paper clarifies protease inhibitors targeting coronavirus 3CLpro, that can be a well-known therapeutic goal," Chang explained.

These findings imply that this series of chemicals should be researched further as a potential therapeutic for human coronavirus infection, they said.