The Coronavirus Network Explorer: Mining a large-scale knowledge graph for effects of SARS-CoV-2 on host cell function

Building on recent work that identified human host proteins that interact with SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins in the context of an affinity-purification mass spectrometry screen, we use a machine learning-based approach to connect the viral proteins to relevant biological functions and diseases in a large-scale knowledge graph derived from the biomedical literature. Our aim is to explore how SARS-CoV-2 could interfere with various host cell functions, and also to identify additional drug targets amongst the host genes that could potentially be modulated against COVID-19. Results are presented in the form of interactive network visualizations, that allow exploration of underlying experimental evidence. A selection of networks is discussed in the context of recent clinical observations.