Decoy peptides effectively inhibit the binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 on oral epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: The entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells involves the interaction between the viral spike protein and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Given that the spike protein evolves rapidly to evade host immunity, therapeutics that block ACE2 accessibility, such as spike decoys, could serve as an alternative strategy for attenuating viral infection. Here, we constructed a drug screening platform based on oral epithelial cells to rapidly identify peptides or compounds capable of blocking the spike-ACE2 interaction. We engineered short decoy peptides, 8 to 14 amino acids in length, using the spike protein's receptor-binding motif (RBM) and demonstrated that these peptides can effectively inhibit virus attachment to host cells. Additionally, we discovered that diminazene acetur

SUBMITTER: Loi LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10724569 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature