RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The effect of whey protein on viral infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 and pangolin coronavirus in vitro
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.08.17.254979
DO 10.1101/2020.08.17.254979
A1 Huahao Fan
A1 Yuqian Luo
A1 Bixia Hong
A1 Liqin Wang
A1 Xiangshu Jin
A1 Yangzhen Chen
A1 Yunjia Hu
A1 Tong Li
A1 Hui Zhuang
A1 Yi-Hua Zhou
A1 Yigang Tong
A1 Kuanhui Xiang
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/08/18/2020.08.17.254979.abstract
AB Since the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human breastmilk, little is known about the antiviral property of human breastmilk to SARS-CoV-2 and its related pangolin coronavirus (GX_P2V). Here we present for the first time that whey protein from human breastmilk effectively inhibited both SARS-CoV-2 and GX_P2V by blocking viral attachment, entry and even post-entry viral replication. Moreover, human whey protein inhibited infectious virus production proved by the plaque assay. We found that whey protein from different species such as cow and goat also showed anti-coronavirus properties. And commercial bovine milk also showed similar activity. Interestingly, the main antimicrobial components of breastmilk, such as Lactoferrin and IgA antibody, showed limited anti-coronavirus activity, indicating that other factors of breastmilk may play the important anti-coronavirus role. Taken together, we reported that whey protein inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and its related virus of GX_P2V. These results rule out whey protein as a direct-acting inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 and GX_P2V infection and replication and further investigation of its molecular mechanism of action in the context of COVID-19.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.