A Syntenin Inhibitor Blocks Endosomal Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and a Panel of RNA Viruses.

Lindqvist R, Benz C, Sereikaite V, Maassen L, Laursen L, Jemth P, Strømgaard K, Ivarsson Y, Överby AK

Viruses 14 (10) 2202 [2022-10-06; online 2022-10-06]

Viruses are dependent on host factors in order to efficiently establish an infection and replicate. Targeting the interactions of such host factors provides an attractive strategy to develop novel antivirals. Syntenin is a protein known to regulate the architecture of cellular membranes by its involvement in protein trafficking and has previously been shown to be important for human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Here, we show that a highly potent and metabolically stable peptide inhibitor that binds to the PDZ1 domain of syntenin inhibits severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection by blocking the endosomal entry of the virus. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitor also hampered chikungunya infection and strongly reduced flavivirus infection, which is completely dependent on receptor-mediated endocytosis for their entry. In conclusion, we have identified a novel broad spectrum antiviral inhibitor that efficiently targets a broad range of RNA viruses.

Category: Biochemistry

Category: Health

Funder: KAW/SciLifeLab National COVID program

Funder: VR

Type: Journal article

PubMed 36298757

DOI 10.3390/v14102202

Crossref 10.3390/v14102202

pmc: PMC9610207
pii: v14102202


Publications 9.5.1