ACE2 and infection: SARS-CoV-2 belongsto the β-genus of the coronaviruses andits genome comprises 14 open reading frames encoding 16 non-structuralproteins (nsp1–16), nine accessory proteins and four structuralproteins [spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N)].6 The human infection by SARS-CoV-2 involves thebinding of the transmembrane homotrimeric spike (S) glycoprotein throughits receptor binding domain (RBD) of its S1 subunit to the host proteinangiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).