The current data suggests that SARS-CoV-2 can enter cells by at least 4 methods:
ACE2 receptor - Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 which is involved in protecting the lung (and other organs) from damage
CD147 - is a transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily, which is involved in tumor development, plasmodium invasion and virus infection.
GRP78 receptors
Furin targets - an enzyme that works as a protein activator
Typically, a virus uses the outreaching spike protein to hook on to the host cell, but normally this protein is inactive. The cleavage site structure’s role is to trick the human furin protein, so it will cut and activate the spike protein and cause a “direct fusion” of the viral and cellular membranes.
The result findings show that when compared to the initial SARs mode of entry, this binding method is more than a 1,000 times efficient.
So, it seems possible that a neutralising antibody or protein could be produced that looks like the receptors on cell surfaces so that the virus preferentially binds to the neutralising antibody, and is thus deactivated.
Such drugs are available or in the drug pipeline and are awaiting clinical trials.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-latestcoronavirus-research-reveals-that-the-virus-has-mutated-gene-similar-to-hiv-and-is-1,000-times-more-potent-
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32057769/
