ACE2 and infection: Furthermore, A549-ACE2 cells pre-treated with BAY11-7082 (an inhibitor of IκBα phosphorylation), MG115 (a proteasome inhibitor preventing proteolytic degradation of IκBα), prior to infection with SARS-CoV-2, showed significant inhibition of viral replication following BAY11-7082 treatment and an almost complete loss of viral protein and RNA expression in response to MG115.