Research Article
A Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Fusion Protein, Pheromonicin Demonstrated Protective Efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 Variants in vitro and in vivo Models
Author(s): Xiao-Qing Qiu*, Shaui-Yao Lu, Ke-Fu Cao, Jian-Yong Tang, Dong Zhang, Feng-Yu Luo, Hong-Fa Li, Yong- Qi Li, Cheng-Yun Yang, Ya-Nan Zou, Li-Li Ren and Xiao-Zhong Peng

The unprecedented Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) epidemic has created a worldwide public health emergency, and there is an urgent need to develop an effective antiviral drug to control this severe infectious disease. Here, we found that the E or M membrane proteins of coronavirus could be targeted by a 28-residue antibody mimetic by fusing two antibody Fab Complementarity-Determining Regions (VHCDR1 and VLCDR3) through a cognate Framework Region (VHFR2) of the antibodies which recognize the coronavirus E or M proteins. We constructed a fusion protein, Pheromonicin-COVID-19 (PMC-COVID-19), by linking colicin Ia, a bactericidal molecule produced by E. coli which kills target cells by forming a voltage-dependent channel in target lipid bilayers, to that antibody mimetic. The E or M protein/antibody mimetic interaction initiated the formation of i.. View more»

DOI: 10.35248/2327-5073.23.12.328

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