PRKCE and severe acute respiratory syndrome: PRKCE encodes a Ca2+-independent protein kinase, belonging to the subfamily of nonconventional protein kinase C (PKCs); it has been described as involved in SARS-CoV infection, through the calcium-independent PI3K/PKCε/JNK/CREB pathway; this, in turn, induces COX-2 expression upon the interaction between viral S protein and cellular receptors [85].