Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with heparin: therapeutic potential

• Grant number: 20/04899-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2020
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Helena Bonciani Nader
• Grantee: Helena Bonciani Nader
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Farmacologia (INFAR). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Marcelo Andrade de Lima
• Associated research grant: 15/03964-6 - Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans: interplay between structure and function, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/09383-3 - Interaction of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with heparin: therapeutic potential, BP.PD

Abstract

Currently, there are no commercially available medicinal products designed to treat and/or prevent infections associated with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak. Traditional drug development processes are slow and ineffective against such emerging public health threats. Repurposing existing drugs that are capable of preventing and treating novel coronavirus infections is a timely and attractive alternative. Heparin, a well-tolerated anticoagulant pharmaceutical, has been used safely in medicine for >80 years and alongside its anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activities, its ability to prevent viral infection, including coronavirus, has been described. Preliminary data show that the Surface Glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2, protein responsible for the invasion of host cells, binds to heparin. Also, COVID-19 high mortality rates are associated with coagulopathy and cytokine storm. Therefore, this project aims to study and explore the structural properties of heparin that mediate such interaction as proof of concept for the development of heparin-based antiviral drugs. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MENEGHETTI, MARIA C. Z.; NAUGHTON, LUCY; O'SHEA, CONOR; TEKI, DINDET S. E. KOFFI; CHAGNAULT, VINCENT; NADER, HELENA B.; RUDD, TIMOTHY R.; YATES, EDWIN A.; KOVENSKY, JOSE; MILLER, GAVIN J.; et al. Using NMR to Dissect the Chemical Space and O-Sulfation Effects within the O- and S-Glycoside Analogues of Heparan Sulfate. ACS OMEGA, v. N/A, p. 7-pg., 2022-07-08. (20/04899-1, 17/14179-3, 19/19298-6)

MENEGHETTI, MARIA C. Z.; CAVALHEIRO, RENAN P.; YATES, EDWIN A.; NADER, HELENA B.; LIMA, MARCELO A.. Involvement of GTPases and vesicle adapter proteins in Heparan sulfate biosynthesis: role of Rab1A, Rab2A and GOLPH3. FEBS Journal, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2025-01-13. (20/04899-1, 19/15369-6, 19/19298-6, 20/02577-7)