Explore groundbreaking research on SARS-CoV-2's cellular invasion mechanisms in this 37-minute conference talk from the AAAS Annual Meeting. Delve into new biochemical clues discovered in cell receptors that explain how the virus hijacks human cells. Learn about the identification of short linear motifs (SLiMs) in ACE2 receptors and integrins, and their potential role in endocytosis and autophagy. Examine the findings of two scientific teams that provide a more comprehensive understanding of SARS-CoV-2's cellular targets and replication strategies. Discover how these insights could lead to new therapeutic approaches for COVID-19. Gain knowledge about the virus's interaction with various cellular processes, including the binding of ACE2 to endocytosis-related proteins and integrin β3 to autophagy-involved proteins. Explore the potential for drug repurposing based on these discoveries and the implications for identifying similar mechanisms in other disease-causing viruses.