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  • Iota-carrageenan neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and inhibits viral replication in vitro.

Iota-carrageenan neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 and inhibits viral replication in vitro.

PloS one (2021-02-18)
Martina Morokutti-Kurz, Maria Fröba, Philipp Graf, Maximilian Große, Andreas Grassauer, Janina Auth, Ulrich Schubert, Eva Prieschl-Grassauer
ABSTRACT

In the absence of a vaccine and other effective prophylactic or therapeutic countermeasures the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a significant public health threat. Attachment and entry of coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 is mainly mediated by the spike glycoprotein. Here, we show that iota-carrageenan can inhibit the cell entry of the SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus in a dose dependent manner. SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus particles were efficiently neutralized with an IC50 value of 2.6 μg/ml iota-carrageenan. Experiments with patient isolated wild type SARS-CoV-2 virus showed an inhibition of replication in a similar range. In vitro data on iota-carrageenan against various Rhino- and endemic Coronaviruses showed similar IC50 values and translated readily into clinical effectiveness when a nasal spray containing iota-carrageenan demonstrated a reduction of severity and duration of symptoms of common cold caused by various respiratory viruses. Accordingly, our in vitro data on SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped lentivirus and replication competent SARS-CoV-2 suggest that administration of iota-carrageenan may be an effective and safe prophylaxis or treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infections.

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Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Coronavirus Group Antigen Antibody, nucleoprotein of OC-43, clone 542-7D, clone 542-7D, Chemicon®, from mouse