An immunostimulatory glycolipid that blocks SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza infections in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Prophylactic vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have lowered the incidence of severe COVID-19, but emergence of viral variants that are antigenically distinct from the vaccine strains are of concern and additional, broadly acting preventive approaches are desirable. Here, we report on a glycolipid termed 7DW8-5 that exploits the host innate immune system to enable rapid control of viral infections in vivo. This glycolipid binds to CD1d on antigen-presenting cells and thereby stimulates NKT cells to release a cascade of cytokines and chemokines. The intranasal administration of 7DW8-5 prior to virus exposure significantly blocked infection by three different authentic variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as by respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus, in mice or hamsters. We also found that this pro

SUBMITTER: Tsuji M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10319732 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature