First-Ever Molecules that Target SARS-CoV-2 RNA and Prevent Replication Could Cure COVID-19 - HospiMedica

Researchers are working on new ways to cure COVID-19 infections, such as using molecules that bind to folds in the SARS-CoV-2 virus’s RNA genome.

The team has identified chemical compounds that can latch onto these 3D structures and block the virus’s ability to replicate.

The infected cell becomes a virus factory, reading the 30,000 nucleotide “letters” of the virus’s genetic code and churning out the proteins the virus needs to replicate and spread.

When they tested the molecules on monkey cells infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, they found that the compounds reduced the amount of virus within 24 hours of infection without causing collateral damage to their host cells.

The researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how these compounds stop the virus from multiplying, once they’re bound to its genome.