Insights on the Mechanical Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Particles and the Effects of the Photosensitizer Hypericin.

SARS-CoV-2 is a highly pathogenic virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. It belongs to the Coronaviridae family, characterized by a phospholipid envelope, which is crucial for viral entry and replication in host cells. Hypericin, a lipophilic, naturally occurring photosensitizer, was reported to effectively inactivate enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, upon light irradiation.

The Interaction of Hypericin with SARS-CoV-2 Reveals a Multimodal Antiviral Activity.

Hypericin is a photosensitizing drug that is active against membrane-enveloped viruses and therefore constitutes a promising candidate for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The antiviral efficacy of hypericin is largely determined by its affinity toward viral components and by the number of active molecules loaded on single viruses. Here we use an experimental approach to follow the interaction of hypericin with SARS-CoV-2, and we evaluate its antiviral efficacy, both in the dark and upon photoactivation.