Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India.
Curr Microbiol. 2023 Jul 6;80(8):273. doi: 10.1007/s00284-023-03366-1.
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants have posed a significant threat to humankind in tackling the viral spread. Furthermore, currently repurposed drugs and frontline antiviral agents have failed to cure severe ongoing infections effectively. This insufficiency has fuelled research for potent and safe therapeutic agents to treat COVID-19. Nonetheless, various vaccine candidates have displayed a differential efficacy and need for repetitive dosing. The FDA-approved polyether ionophore veterinary antibiotic for treating coccidiosis has been repurposed for treating SARS-CoV-2 infection (as shown by both in vitro and in vivo studies) and other deadly human viruses. Based on selectivity index values, ionophores display therapeutic effects at sub-nanomolar concentrations and exhibit selective killing ability. They act on different viral targets (structural and non-structural proteins), host-cell components leading to SARS-CoV-2 inhibition, and their activity is further enhanced by Zn supplementation. This review summarizes the anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential and molecular viral targets of selective ionophores like monensin, salinomycin, maduramicin, CP-80,219, nanchangmycin, narasin, X-206 and valinomycin. Ionophore combinations with Zn are a new therapeutic strategy that warrants further investigation for possible human benefits.
SARS-CoV-2 及其变体的出现给人类抗击病毒传播带来了重大威胁。此外，目前已重新使用的药物和一线抗病毒药物未能有效治愈严重的持续感染。这种不足促使人们研究更有效和安全的治疗剂来治疗 COVID-19。尽管如此，各种疫苗候选者显示出不同的功效，需要重复给药。美国食品和药物管理局批准的用于治疗球虫病的聚醚离子载体兽用抗生素已被重新用于治疗 SARS-CoV-2 感染（体外和体内研究均显示）和其他致命的人类病毒。根据选择性指数值，离子载体在亚纳摩尔浓度下显示出治疗效果，并表现出选择性杀伤能力。它们作用于不同的病毒靶点（结构和非结构蛋白）和宿主细胞成分，从而抑制 SARS-CoV-2，并且锌的补充进一步增强了它们的活性。本综述总结了莫能菌素、盐霉素、马杜霉素、CP-80219、南昌霉素、那拉菌素、X-206 和缬氨霉素等选择性离子载体的抗 SARS-CoV-2 潜力和分子病毒靶点。离子载体与锌的组合是一种新的治疗策略，值得进一步研究，以可能为人类带来益处。
