Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cell cultures by peptide-conjugated morpholino oligomers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As the causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 is a pathogen of immense importance to global public health. Development of innovative direct-acting antiviral agents is sorely needed to address this virus. Peptide-conjugated morpholino oligomers (PPMO) are antisense compounds composed of a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer covalently conjugated to a cell-penetrating peptide. PPMO require no delivery assistance to enter cells and are able to reduce expression of targeted RNA through sequence-specific steric blocking.

Methods

Five PPMO designed against sequences of genomic RNA in the SARS-CoV-2 5'-untranslated region and a negative control PPMO of random sequence were synthesized. Each PPMO was evaluated for its effect on the viability of uninfected cells and it

SUBMITTER: Rosenke K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7717290 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature