Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered a small molecule that can neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing Covid-19, potentially reducing the duration of the infection after exposure. The discovery, which began during the height of the pandemic, was made by screening over 15 million compounds for their potential as therapeutic agents. The team of scientists selected the top 15 molecules that disrupted the interaction between the spike protein and the ACE2 receptor and used molecular dynamic simulations to determine which ones could neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The molecule that showed the greatest promise was CD04872SC. The Omicron variant has particularly stressed healthcare systems worldwide, making the discovery of effective antiviral agents urgently needed.
Small Molecule Found to Neutralize SARS-CoV-2 Virus and Reduce Infection Duration
Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered a small molecule that can neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing Covid-19, potentially reducing the duration of the infection after exposure. The discovery, which began during the height of the pandemic, was made by screening over 15 million compounds for their potential as therapeutic agents. The team of scientists selected the top 15 molecules that disrupted the interaction between the spike protein and the ACE2 receptor and used molecular dynamic simulations to determine which ones could neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The molecule that showed the greatest promise was CD04872SC.
According to the researchers, the molecule works differently than Pfizer’s antiviral treatment Paxlovid, which is only effective within the first three days of showing symptoms. The discovery of this small molecule therapeutic, which inhibits the interaction between the spike protein of the Covid-19 virus and the ACE2 receptor of the infected individual, provides immediate protection against viral infection, making it potentially suitable for people across all age groups, particularly high-risk and immunocompromised individuals who may not generate sufficient antibodies after vaccination.
The discovery of CD04872SC, which is described in the journal Biomedicines, is a significant breakthrough in the fight against Covid-19 and its variants, including Delta and Omicron. The variants have demonstrated how easily the virus can adapt to antigenic changes in its spike protein without losing fitness. The team’s ability to experimentally observe that CD04872SC inhibited the infection of SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Omicron is an important finding that could have significant implications for the development of effective treatments for Covid-19 and future viral outbreaks.
“We were able to experimentally observe that CD04872SC also inhibited the infection of the SARS-CoV-2 variants Delta and Omicron,” said Reyes-Alcaraz, the study’s first author. “To demonstrate the binding between CD04872SC and the spike proteins of each variant, we performed a thermal shift assay which measures changes in the thermal denaturation temperature, serving as an indicator of the stability of a protein under varying conditions such as when bound by a drug, pH, ionic strength, or sequence mutation,” said Craft, associate professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry.
The discovery of CD04872SC provides hope for the development of new therapies that can help shorten the course of the virus after exposure and reduce the severity of symptoms, particularly for those who are at higher risk of developing serious complications from Covid-19. The potential impact of this discovery is significant, and further research is needed to explore its full therapeutic potential.
Small Molecule Discovery Urgently Needed to Combat Omicron Variant, says McConnell
According to McConnell, identifying effective antiviral agents is urgently needed to combat the Omicron variant, which has particularly stressed healthcare systems worldwide.
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