In SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infected Caco-2 cells, the phosphorylase activity of CK2 is increased resulting in phosphorylation of several cytoskeletal proteins.  These infected cells also display CK2-containing filopodia protrusions associated with budding viral particles.  Hence the protrusions may assist the virus in infecting adjacent cells.  In these same cells, the CK2 inhibitor silmitasertib displayed potent antiviral activity.  Senhwa Biosciences and the US National Institutes of Health have announced that they will evaluate the efficacy of silmitasertib in treating COVID-19 infections.