Study of the action of synthetic peptides as antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and combined evaluation with commercial anti-inflammatories

• Grant number: 20/12519-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal researcher: Eduardo Maffud Cilli
• Grantee: Paulo Ricardo da Silva Sanches
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/05761-3 - Study of the action of synthetic peptides as antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and combined evaluation with commercial anti-inflammatories, AP.R

Abstract

Human pandemics, emerging and re-emerging viruses and the mutation of viral strains have been highlighting the importance for antiviral research. Pandemics, such as the actual caused by SARS-CoV-2, directly affect the world, mainly the public health, economy, tourism, etc. Also, due his high and fast spreading, this disease are saturating hospitals worldwide and the number of deaths are increasing constantly. Due the actual severe global health problem caused by SARS-CoV-2 and moved for the urgency for the development of treatments for this disease and future pandemics, the search for new compounds to treat infections by SARS-Cov-2 represents an important research area. Therefore, the objective of this project is identify and evaluate potential peptides able to inhibit virus SARS-CoV-2 infection progression in different steps of virus replication in vitro such as virucidal, receptor binding and cytoplasmic replication. Peptides and bioconjugates have been showing high antiviral potential in different steps of virus lifecycle. According to antiviral activity, compounds will be classified within groups (Virucidal, Inhibitor of receptor binding and inhibitor of cytoplasmic replication) and the action mechanism will be elucidate. Additionally, selected peptides will be evaluated together with anti-inflammatories (Ibuprofen and Ketoprofen) to evaluate the combination of antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapies. (AU)