New research concludes that extracts from seaweed could be more effective than remdesivir, the current leading SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug.
\nThe authors research lays the groundwork for future studies to corroborate the findings in humans.
\nSARS-CoV-2, like all viruses, reproduces by attaching to a host cell\u2019s membrane, inserting its genetic material and using the cell\u2019s resources to create replica viruses. In this way, it can spread throughout a person\u2019s body.
\nOne way to inhibit the spread of this virus between people is through handwashing. While it removes contaminated material, soap can also damage the outer envelope of a SARS-CoV-2 particle, which stops it from latching on to other cells. Antiviral drugs that target SARS-CoV-2 often work differently. Rather than damaging the virus\u2019s outer membrane, they bind with the component that attaches to the host\u2019s cells. When this occurs, the virus is disarmed and cannot infect cells to replicate itself. This is how the current leading SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug remdesivir works. However, this manner of combating viruses leaves room for improvement. \u201cwe\u2019re learning how to block viral infection, and that is knowledge we will need if we want to confront pandemics rapidly.\u201d Heparin is a common blood thinner that can be extracted from seaweed. The present study looked at three variants of heparin and two related fucoidans \u2014 a substance that can be obtained from brown seaweed to see how effective they would be as decoys for SARS-CoV-2 in a laboratory setting.
\nThe researchers applied the extracts to mammalian cells and measured enough for each one to reduce the effectiveness of the virus by 50%.
\nThe researchers found that one of the fucoidans and two of the heparin extracts required a significantly lower concentration than remdesivir to reduce the virus\u2019s effectiveness to 50 per cent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New research concludes that extracts from seaweed could be more effective than remdesivir, the current leading SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug. The authors research lays the groundwork for future studies to corroborate the findings in humans. SARS-CoV-2, like all viruses, reproduces by attaching to a host cell\u2019s membrane, inserting its genetic material and using the cell\u2019s resources […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-editorial"],"yoast_head":"\n