SERINC5, is a cellular multipass transmembrane protein involved in sphingolipid and phosphatydilserine biogenesis and a known retroviral restriction factor. Here, Timilsina et al. show that SERINC5 is a host restriction factor for SARS-CoV-2 that prevents viral fusion during entry. Further they show that viral ORF7a counteracts SERINC5 anti-viral activity by blocking its incorporation into progeny virions.
- Uddhav Timilsina
- Supawadee Umthong
- Spyridon Stavrou
