RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A photoactivable natural product with broad antiviral activity against enveloped viruses including highly pathogenic coronaviruses
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.07.09.451770
DO 10.1101/2021.07.09.451770
A1 Thomas Meunier
A1 Lowiese Desmarets
A1 Simon Bordage
A1 Moussa Bamba
A1 Kévin Hervouet
A1 Yves Rouillé
A1 Nathan François
A1 Marion Decossas
A1 Fézan Honora Tra Bi
A1 Olivier Lambert
A1 Jean Dubuisson
A1 Sandrine Belouzard
A1 Sevser Sahpaz
A1 Karin Séron
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/07/09/2021.07.09.451770.abstract
AB The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has highlighted the need for broad-spectrum antivirals against coronaviruses (CoVs). Here, pheophorbide a (Pba) was identified as a highly active antiviral molecule against HCoV-229E after bioguided fractionation of plant extracts. The antiviral activity of Pba was subsequently shown for SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV, and its mechanism of action was further assessed, showing that Pba is an inhibitor of coronavirus entry by directly targeting the viral particle. Interestingly, the antiviral activity of Pba depends on light exposure, and Pba was shown to inhibit virus-cell fusion by stiffening the viral membrane as demonstrated by cryo-electron microscopy. Moreover, Pba was shown to be broadly active against several other enveloped viruses, and reduced SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV replication in primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Pba is the first described natural antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 with direct photosensitive virucidal activity that holds potential for COVID-19 therapy or disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.