Coronaviruses are not new, worldwide of different viruses of this family infect people on a regular basis. In most cases, they cause only mild symptoms.
The novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 behaves differently.
This Virus, spreading since December of 2019, worldwide after it was transmitted from animals to humans, can cause a severe disease of the Amtenwege, the Covid-19 is called.
Currently, worldwide there are more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the disease, of which the majority is already doing well. However, over 3,000 patients have died so far.
Scientists are therefore working tirelessly to find a suitable medication – because there is currently neither vaccine nor drugs against the Virus.
But that could change now.
Penetration of the Coronavirus prevent
A German team of researchers under the direction of the infection biologists of the German Primate center wanted to find out how the Occurrence of the Coronavirus can be prevented in the host cells.
During your research in you are stratified, a cellular Protein, which is for the Penetration of SARS-CoV-2 in the cells.
“Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 required the in the human body existing Protease TMPRSS2 in the host cell to invade,“ explains the head of the Department of infection biology at the German Primate center, Stefan Pöhlmann, in a statement.
“We have found a way to combat the Virus.”
Applicability of the drug is tested
The use of an effective Means is now may not be so remote.
Because there is already a drug on the market, which inhibits the Protease TMPRSS2: in Japan approved Camostat Mesilate, which is used for inflammation of the pancreas.
The scientists have studied, whether the agent can prevent also infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2.
“We have tested SARS-CoV-2 from a patient and found that Camostat Mesilate prevents the Penetration of the Virus in lung cells,” says Markus Hoffmann, the first author of the study.
“Our findings suggest that Camostat could protect Mesilate, even before the disease COVID-19.”
The people applicable effectiveness should now be in the context of clinical studies.
Sources
- German Primate center (2020): The propagation of SARS-Coronavirus-2 in people prevent, retrieved on 10.03.2020 https://www.dpz.eu/de/startseite/einzelansicht/news/die-vermehrung-von-sars-coronavirus-2-im-menschen-verhindern.html
- Hoffmann, M., et al. (2020): SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and is blocked by a 2 clinically-proven protease inhibitor, retrieved on 10.03.2020 https://marlin-prod.literatumonline.com/pb-assets/journals/research/cell/CELL_S0092-8674(20)30229-4.pdf
Cornelia Bertram
*The article “Coronavirus: researchers identify potential drug against Covid-19” is published by FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.