Photodynamic Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity and Antiviral Treatment Effects In Vitro

Viruses

Volker Eulenburg¹  Svitlana Ziganshyna¹  Robert Werdehausen¹  Mathias Kuehnert²  Agnes Schulze²  Grit Szczepankiewicz³  Corinna Pietsch³  Uwe Gerd Liebert³ 

[1] Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), 04318 Leipzig, Germany;Medical Faculty, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;

关键词: SARS;    SARS-CoV-2;    coronavirus;    COVID-19;    THPTS;    photodynamic inactivation;   

DOI  :  10.3390/v14061301

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Despite available vaccines, antibodies and antiviral agents, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic still continues to cause severe disease and death. Current treatment options are limited, and emerging new mutations are a challenge. Thus, novel treatments and measures for prevention of viral infections are urgently required. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a potential treatment for infections by a broad variety of critical pathogens, including viruses. We explored the infectiousness of clinical SARS-CoV-2 isolates in Vero cell cultures after PDI-treatment, using the photosensitizer Tetrahydroporphyrin-tetratosylate (THPTS) and near-infrared light. Replication of viral RNA (qPCR), viral cytopathic effects (microscopy) and mitochondrial activity were assessed. PDI of virus suspension with 1 µM THPTS before infection resulted in a reduction of detectable viral RNA by 3 log levels at day 3 and 6 after infection to similar levels as in previously heat-inactivated virions (<99.9%; p < 0.05). Mitochondrial activity, which was significantly reduced by viral infection, was markedly increased by PDI to levels similar to uninfected cell cultures. When applying THPTS-based PDI after infection, a single treatment had a virus load-reducing effect only at a higher concentration (3 µM) and reduced cell viability in terms of PDI-induced toxicity. Repeated PDI with 0.3 µM THPTS every 4 h for 3 d after infection reduced the viral load by more than 99.9% (p < 0.05), while cell viability was maintained. Our data demonstrate that THPTS-based antiviral PDI might constitute a promising approach for inactivation of SARS-CoV-2. Further testing will demonstrate if THPTS is also suitable to reduce the viral load in vivo.

【 授权许可】

Unknown