Glycans in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein play active role in infection

Many efforts to develop vaccines and therapies to thwart SARS-CoV-2 focus on the coronavirus spike protein, which binds the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on human cells to allow viral entry. Now, researchers have uncovered an active role for glycans -- sugar molecules that can decorate proteins -- in this process, suggesting targets for vaccines and therapies.