Snake venom phospholipase A₂s exhibit strong virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 and inhibit the viral spike glycoprotein interaction with ACE2.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 requires new treatments both to alleviate the symptoms and to prevent the spread of this disease. Previous studies demonstrated good antiviral and virucidal activity of phospholipase A₂s (PLA₂s) from snake venoms against viruses from different families but there was no data for coronaviruses. Here we show that PLA₂s from snake venoms protect Vero E6 cells against SARS-CoV-2 cytopathic effects. PLA₂s showed low cytotoxicity to Vero E6 cells with some activity at micromolar concentrations, but strong antiviral activity at nanomolar concentrations. Dimeric PLA₂ from the viper Vipera nikolskii and its subunits manifested especially potent virucidal effects, which were related to their phospholipol

SUBMITTER: Siniavin AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8554752 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature