The present invention is directed to peptides that bind to the cellular
receptors for the SARS S protein. The invention also includes
polynucleotides coding for these peptides and methods in which they can
be used to block the binding of the S protein to receptor. The peptides
can also be detectably labeled and used in assays for identifying cells
that have receptors for the S protein, in vaccines and for identifying
other agents that inhibit receptor binding.
