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HTCC: Broad Range Inhibitor of Coronavirus Entry

Aleksandra Milewska1,2, Kamil Kaminski3, Justyna Ciejka2

  • 1Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.

Plos One
|June 2, 2016
PubMed

Insights

A novel chitosan derivative, HTCC, effectively inhibits common cold human coronaviruses by blocking viral entry. This discovery offers a potential new therapeutic strategy against these widespread respiratory pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Materials Science
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Six human coronaviruses (HCoVs) cause respiratory infections, with four (HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-HKU1) typically causing the common cold.
  • Severe disease can occur in vulnerable populations, and no specific antiviral drugs currently exist for these common HCoVs, leaving only supportive care.
  • Previous research identified N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC) as a potential inhibitor of HCoV-NL63.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antiviral mechanism of HTCC against human coronaviruses.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of HTCC and its derivatives against a broader range of low-pathogenic human coronaviruses.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro assays to assess the inhibition of viral entry by HTCC.
  • Testing of HTCC polymers with varying degrees of substitution against multiple low-pathogenic HCoV strains.

Main Results:

  • HTCC was shown to inhibit the interaction between HCoV-NL63 and its cellular receptor, effectively blocking viral entry.
  • HTCC polymers demonstrated inhibitory activity against all tested low-pathogenic human coronaviruses.

Conclusions:

  • HTCC acts as a potent inhibitor of common cold human coronaviruses by preventing viral attachment and entry.
  • Modified chitosan polymers represent a promising class of compounds for the development of novel antiviral therapies against prevalent HCoVs.

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