PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Melanie Gooldy
AU  - Christelle M. Roux
AU  - Steven P. LaRosa
AU  - Nicole Spaulding
AU  - Charles J. Fisher, Jr.
TI  - Removal of Clinically Relevant SARS-CoV-2 Variants by An Affinity Resin Containing <em>Galanthus nivalis</em> Agglutinin
AID  - 10.1101/2022.04.27.489436
DP  - 2022 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2022.04.27.489436
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/04/28/2022.04.27.489436.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/04/28/2022.04.27.489436.full
AB  - The Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus has now exceeded two years in duration. The pandemic has been characterized by the development of a succession of variants containing mutations in the spike protein affecting infectiousness, virulence and efficacy of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. Resistance to vaccination and limitations in the current treatments available require the ongoing development of therapies especially for those with severe disease. The plant lectin Galanthus nivalis binds to mannose structures in the viral envelope. We hypothesized that viral binding should be unaffected by spike protein mutations. Known concentrations of seven clinically relevant SARS-CoV-2 variants were spiked in medium and passed three times over columns containing 1 gm of GNA affinity resin. Percent decrease in viral titer was compared with a control sample. Viral capture efficiency was found to range from 53 to 89% for all variants. Extrapolation indicated that an adult Aethlon Hemopurifier® would have more than sufficient binding capacity for viral loads observed in adult patients with severe COVID-19 infection.Competing Interest StatementThis study was funded by Aethlon Medical, Inc. Aethlon Medical provided the materials and GNA affinity resin to perform the study. Authors SPL and CSF are employees of Aethlon Medical, Inc.