Molecular and In Silico Characterisation of the Interaction Between SARS-CoV-2 and the Mammalian 14-3-3 zeta (ζ) protein

COVID-19 continues to pose risks as new variants make vaccines and drugs less effective. This research looks at a different approach: focusing on a human protein, 14-3-3 zeta, that the virus uses during infection. This study found that this protein physically connects with the virus’s nucleocapsid, a key part of its structure. Changing the levels of 14-3-3 zeta in cells either boosted or reduced the virus’s ability to multiply. This suggests the protein is central to the infection process. By targeting this stable human protein, new treatments could be developed that work against different variants of the virus.