Mol Brain . Development of a novel peptide to prevent entry of SARS-CoV-2 into lung and olfactory bulb cells of hACE2 expressing mice

[tetano]

Mol Brain


. 2022 Aug 9;15(1):71.
doi: 10.1186/s13041-022-00956-1.
Development of a novel peptide to prevent entry of SARS-CoV-2 into lung and olfactory bulb cells of hACE2 expressing mice


Ping Su ^{# 1} , Dongxu Zhai ^{# 1} , Albert H C Wong ^{1 2 3 4} , Fang Liu ^{5 6 7 8}



Affiliations

• PMID: 35945596
• DOI: 10.1186/s13041-022-00956-1

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, there are no effective treatments specifically for COVID-19 infection. The initial step in SARS-CoV-2 infection is attachment to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on the cell surface. We have developed a protein peptide that effectively disrupts the binding between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and ACE2. When delivered by nasal spray, our peptide prevents SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from entering lung and olfactory bulb cells of mice expressing human ACE2. Our peptide represents a potential novel treatment and prophylaxis against COVID-19.

Keywords: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2); COVID-19; Interfering peptide; SARS-CoV-2; Viral entry.