Like all viral pathogens, severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV 2 (I know, how topical), requires a cellsurface receptor in order to invade a given host cell. For SARS-CoV2, this receptor is actually the enzyme Angiotensin ConvertingEnzyme 2, or ACE2. ACE2 is responsible for downregulation of theRenin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System by deactivation of AngiotensinII. Explain the RAAS in detail, including the roles played bykidneys and the lungs, and then explain what effects usingrecombinant human ACE2, or rhACE2, to treat acute respiratorydistress syndrome could have on blood pressure.
