A new strategy to curb coronavirus infection and its rapid propagation between cells: it is the result of a joint study between the Italian Institute of Technology, La Scuola Superre Sant'Anna and the University of Milan, published in Pharmacological Research magazine. Paolo Ciana (Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Milan), Vincenzo Lionetti (Professor of Anesthesiology at Scuola Superre Sant'Anna) and Angelo Reggiani (Researcher of Pharmacology of the Italian Institute of Technology) wondered if there is the possibility of blocking the progress From the infection by some variant of SARS-COV-2, hiding that part of the ACE2 receptor (an amino acid called "K353") that the virus uses to enter human cells.
Therefore, scientists have patented the first piece of what could become a drug, based on the use of a "aptamer" of DNA, or a single chain of oligonucleotides, capable of specifically binding to K353, making it inaccessible to protein Peak of any coronavirus and thus preventing cell infection.
According to the authors, "thanks to this study it will be possible to develop a new precision therapeutic approach to prevent severe infection by Covid, without stimulating the immune system or having important side effects." Angelo Reggiani explains the importance of discovery.
Date Of Update: 08 December 2021, 11:20
