SARS-CoV-2 biology and host interactions

The zoonotic emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the ensuing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have profoundly affected our society. The rapid spread and continuous evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to threaten global public health. Recent scientific advances have dissected many of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in coronavirus infections, and large-scale screens have uncovered novel host-cell factors that are vitally important for the virus life cycle. In this Review, we provide an updated summary of the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, gene function and virus–host interactions, including recent landmark findings on general aspects of coronavirus biology and newly discovered host factors necessary for virus replication. In this Review, Thiel and colleagues summarize our emerging knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 intracellular life cycle and the molecular functions of the viral proteins, as well as their interaction with the host cell.