FOUR SUBSTANCES THAT THE GERMAN SCIENTISTS FOUND TO INHIBIT THE SARS-CoV-2 VIRAL REPLICATION

Edited by, JASPER VICTORIA

Certain researchers from the German center for infection Research (DZIF) and University of Bonn identified four substances that inhibit the SARS CoV-2 viral replication, by examining the way by which it reprograms the host cell metabolism. They reported the following four substances to inhibit the SARS CoV-2  viral replication, in the journal Nature communications,

1)Spermine

2)Spermidine

            are substances found naturally in the body.

3)MK-2206, a cancer drug under experiment

4)Niclosamide, an anthelmintic for tapeworm infections

The researchers found that, the virus slows down its recycling process in order to prevent its exposure of damaged structures and waste materials and getting auto-digested by a process called autophagy. In the mean time, it replaces the damaged structures with new structures.

The researchers took this recycling process as the target and found that the substances that induced recycling, reduced the viral replication. Four of them were already in use and also effective. 

SPERMINE and SPERMIDINE

Both of them are Polyamines. Spermidine is a bacterial metabolite produced in the human gut, which enhances autophagy. Wheat germ, soya, mushrooms and cheese are rich in spermidine. Spermidine reduced the viral replication by 85 percent and Spermine, the derivative of spermidine exhibited 90 percent reduction of viral replication in human lung tissue. However, these naturally occurring substances require more research and need to be formulated into proper dosage form and doses to be used in therapy.

MK-2206

It is an AKT / protein kinase B inhibitor, which is being under clinical trials to be used in cancer treatment. It reduced the SARS CoV-2 viral replication by 90 percent and hence would also be examined for its clinical use in Covid-19.

NICLOSAMIDE-THE MOST EFFECTIVE

Niclosamide, the anthelmintic used in the treatment of tapeworm infections showed the maximal reduction of viral replication out of the four substances in discussion, more than 99 percent reduction of viral replication.

Niclosamide is being studied in a phase 2 clinical trial named 'NICCAM' combined with Camostat, in Covid patients.