Enteric α-defensins contribute to intestinal mucosal immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets epithelial cells in the respiratory and intestinal tracts where its cognate receptor ACE2 and obligate processing enzymes furin and TMPRSS2 are richly expressed. However, compared with severe inflammation and tissue damage in the lungs of a COVID-19 patient, clinical lesions in the intestin...