College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea; Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses, Korea Virus Research Institute, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Published: August 2022
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Although several vaccines and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are currently available, control and prevention of COVID-19 through these interventions is limited due to inaccessibility and economic issues in some regions and countries. Moreover, incomplete viral clearance by ineffective therapeutics may lead to rapid genetic evolution, resulting in the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants that may escape the host immune system as well as currently available COVID-19 vaccines. Here, we report that phytochemicals extracted from Chlorella spp. and Psidium guajava possess broad-spectrum antiviral activity against a range of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Through chromatography-based screening, we identified four bioactive compounds and subsequently demonstrated their potential antiviral activities in vivo. Interestingly, in hACE2 mice, treatment with these compounds significantly attenuates SARS-CoV-2-induced proinflammatory responses, demonstrating their potential anti-inflammatory activity. Collectively, our study suggests that phytochemicals from edible plants may be readily available therapeutics and prophylactics against multiple SARS-CoV-2 strains and variants.
An unprecedented amount of SARS-CoV-2 data has been accumulated compared with previous infectious diseases, enabling insights into its evolutionary process and more thorough analyses. This study investigates SARS-CoV-2 features as it evolved to evaluate its infectivity. We examined viral sequences and identified the polarity of amino acids in the receptor binding motif (RBM) region.
Introduction: To analyze the molecular pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a small animal model such as mice is needed: human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (hACE2), the receptor of SARS-CoV-2, needs to be expressed in the respiratory tract of mice.
Methods: We conferred SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in mice by using an adenoviral vector expressing hACE2 driven by an elongation factor 1α (EF1α) promoter with a leftward orientation.
Results: In this model, severe pneumonia like human COVID-19 was observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice, which was confirmed by dramatic infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung with efficient viral replication.
SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate, leading to breakthrough infections. The development of new vaccine strategies to combat various strains is crucial. Protein cyclization can enhance thermal stability and may improve immunogenicity.
Background: Vaccination is one of the best ways to control the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. In Taiwan, healthcare workers were prioritized for vaccination, but the effectiveness of these vaccines for them remains unclear. Thus, it's essential to examine their neutralizing antibodies after prime-boost vaccinations.
