Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids
Published on: May 4, 2018
The antimicrobial peptide nisin promotes host cell survival during SARS-CoV-2 infection
Bevin C English1,2, Allan Radaic3, Ross Barrios-Medina3
1CoLabs, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
Abstract:
COVID-19 has been a major public health concern for the past five years. While remarkable work has been done to develop therapies, there is still a need for more treatments to fight this disease. Recently, it was suggested that nisin, an FDA-approved antimicrobial compound, may interfere with SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells. Here, we show that nisin does not inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Surprisingly, nisin treatment leads to reduced host-cell death during infection in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that nisin may mitigate SARS-CoV-2-induced pathology.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
01:28Antimicrobial Effectiveness
01:16Transduction
01:23The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:31Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...