Coronavirus

Goc A, Ivanov V, Ivanova S, Chatterjee M, Rath M, Niedzwiecki A

European Journal of Biology and Biotechnology, Vol 2(5), 2021

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24018/ejbio.2021.2.5.258

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains a challenge to human health and economy worldwide. Previously we have shown that a combination of active plant-derived compounds and plant extracts can dose-dependently inhibit binding of RBD-spike protein SARS-CoV-2 to the ACE2receptor and its expression on human alveolar epithelial cells. Here we use eGFP-luciferase-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein pseudo-virions and SARS-CoV-2-RdRp, to show if the antiviral effectiveness of this combination of plant-derived compounds and plant extracts expands to other important key mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Or results revealed that this combination of five plant-derived compounds inhibited the attachment of the SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-typed particles with lung hACE2/A549 cells.

Read more: Simultaneous Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity by a Specific Combination of Plant-derived Compounds

Goc A, Sumera W, Rath M, Niedzwiecki A

PLOS ONE 16(6): e0253489. 2021

Abstract

In the pursuit of suitable and effective solutions to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we investigated the efficacy of several phenolic compounds in controlling key cellular mechanisms involved in its infectivity. The way the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects the cell is a complex process and comprises four main stages: attachment to the cognate receptor, cellular entry, replication and cellular egress. Since, this is a multi-part process, it creates many opportunities to develop effective interventions.…

Read more: Phenolic compounds disrupt spike-mediated receptor-binding and entry of SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virions

Goc A, Niedzwiecki A, Rath M

The strain SARS-CoV-2, newly emerged in late 2019, has been identifed as the cause of COVID19 and the pandemic declared by WHO in early 2020. Although lipids have been shown to possess antiviral efcacy, little is currently known about lipid compounds with anti-SARS-CoV-2 binding and entry properties. To address this issue, we screened, overall, 17 polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids, as wells as lipid-soluble vitamins. In performing target-based ligand screening utilizing the RBD-SARS-CoV-2 sequence, we observed that polyunsaturated fatty acids most efectively interfere with binding to hACE2, the receptor for SARSCoV-2. Using a spike protein pseudo-virus, we also found that linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid signifcantly block the entry of SARS-CoV-2. In addition, eicosapentaenoic acid showed higher efcacy than linolenic acid in reducing activity of TMPRSS2 and cathepsin L proteases, but neither of the fatty acids afected their expression at the protein level. Also, neither reduction of hACE2 activity nor binding to the hACE2 receptor upon treatment with these two fatty acids was observed. Although further in vivo experiments are warranted to validate the current fndings, our study provides a new insight into the role of lipids as antiviral compounds against the SARS-CoV-2 strain.…

Read more: Polyunsaturated ω‑3 fatty acids inhibit ACE2‑controlled SARS‑CoV‑2 binding and cellular entry

Ivanov V, Goc A, Ivanova S, Niedzwiecki A, Rath M

Infectious Diseases: Research and Treatment. January 2021. Volume 14: 1–7

Abstract

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme II or ACE2 is an integral membrane protein present on many types of cells, including vascular endothelial cells and lung alveolar epithelial cells. This receptor serves as the entry point for SARS-coronaviruses (SARS-CoVs), including a novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV. Limited availability of these receptors can thwart cellular entry of this virus.…

Read more: Inhibition of ACE2 expression by Ascorbic acid alone and its combination with other natural compounds

Niedzwiecki A, Rath M

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, Jan 19, 2021

Global impact of COVID-19 pandemic

Over 70 million cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed worldwide by mid-December 2020,
and the disease had claimed more than 1.6 million lives. According to a joint statement
issued on 13 October 2020 by ILO, FAO, IFAD and WHO “the COVID-19 pandemic has led to
a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public
health, food systems and the world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by
the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme
poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690
million, could increase to over 800 million by the end the year”. 1  In addition, the wide socio-
economic impact of this pandemic has threatened the sustainability of all sectors of society
all over the globe, impacting mental health, the food supply, medical services, education,
and energy, among many other aspects. 2
This statement highlights the important, but often overlooked, fact that healthy nutrition
supplying a full spectrum of micronutrients is the foundation of our immune system function
and provides effective protection against infections, including COVID-19.

Full Study:

Read more: Scientific basis of micronutrient applications as an effective, safe, and affordable global public health strategy to help control the coronavirus pandemic

Sumera W, Goc A, Niedzwiecki A, Rath M

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, Aug 28, 2020

Abstract

Infectious diseases have become a growing health problem worldwide. Thus, the search for novel non-toxic and effective approaches with immune system- enhancing effects, so it can resist and fight these infections is still sought after. It has been firmly established that both nutrition and the availability of specific micronutrients are important for achieving optimum immunity.…

Read more: The micronutrient combination with immune-enhancing effects

Goc A, Sumera W, Ivanov V, Niedzwiecki A, Rath M

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, Aug 14, 2020

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge to human health as well as global economies. The quest for vaccines and other approaches to this pandemic thus far focuses on synthetic molecules that are – predictably – associated with a variable degree of adverse effects.…

Read more: Micronutrient combination inhibits two key steps of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection: viral binding to ACE2 receptor and its cellular expression

Ivanov V, Ivanova S, Niedzwiecki A, Rath M

Journal of Cellular Medicine and Natural Health, July 2, 2020

SUMMARY

Optimum micronutrient intake is the only scientifically proven way to improve general immune resistance against infections, a fact documented in every leading textbook of biology.  This study provides scientific evidence that, in addition, specific micronutrient compositions are powerful tools in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both, SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes the current pandemic – and other coronaviruses enter body cells via a specific receptor, the Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme 2 (ACE2). The ACE2 receptor is expressed by many cell types, including lung epithelial cells as well as endothelial cells of the vascular system.…

Read more: Effective and safe global public health strategy to fight the COVID-19 pandemic: Specific micronutrient composition inhibits Coronavirus cell-entry receptor (ACE2) expression