Author/Authors :
Baglivo, Mirko MAGI-Euregio, Bolzano, Italy , Baronio, Manuela Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care - Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy , Natalini, Giuseppe Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care - Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy , Beccari, Tommaso Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences - University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy , Chiurazzi, Pietro Institute of Genomic Medicine - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Rome, Italy , Fulcheri, Ezio Dept of Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences (DISC) - Pathology Division of Anatomic Pathology - University of Genova, Italy , Petralia, Paolo Institute G. Gaslini - Childrens Hospital, Genova, Italy , Michelini, Sandro Department of Vascular Rehabilitation - San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Rome, Italy , Fiorentini, Giovanni Pharmacy Fiorentini, Brescia, Italy , Abele Miggiano, Giacinto Human Nutrition Research Center - Sacro Cuore Catholic University, Rome, Italy , Morresi, Assunta Department of Chemistry Biology and Biotechnology - University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy , Tonini, Gerolamo Department of Surgery - Fondazione Poliambu-lanza, Brescia, Italy , Bertelli, Matteo MAGI-Euregio, Bolzano, Italy
Abstract :
Background: Viral infectivity depends on interactions between components of the host cell plasma membrane and the virus envelope. Here we review strategies that could help stem the advance of the SARS-COV-2 epidemic. Methods and Results: We focus on the role of lipid structures, such as lipid rafts and choles-terol, involved in the process, mediated by endocytosis, by which viruses attach to and infect cells. Previous studies have shown that many naturally derived substances, such as cyclodextrin and sterols, could reduce the infectivity of many types of viruses, including the coronavirus family, through interference with lipid-dependent attachment to human host cells. Conclusions: Certain molecules prove able to reduce the infectivity of some coronaviruses, possibly by inhibiting viral lipid-dependent attachment to host cells. More research into these molecules and methods would be worthwhile as it could provide insights the mechanism of trans-mission of SARS-COV-2 and, into how they could become a basis for new antiviral strategies.
