Unlike vaccines, which protect against Coronavirus for a long time, this method of application starts protecting against the virus almost right away, even in a high-risk area.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki have identified a molecule that can neutralize the coronavirus spike protein and provide good short-term protection against the virus.

TriSb92, a novel compound discovered by Finnish scientists, protects against coronavirus infection for at least eight hours in cell cultures and animal experiments, even in circumstances of high exposure risk. In contrast to vaccine protection, TriSb92’s action begins almost immediately after it is given.

“In animal models, nasally administered TriSb92 offered protection against infection in an exposure situation where all unprotected mice were infected,” says Anna Mäkelä, Postdoctoral Researcher, first author of the study

The TriSb92 molecule is based on a completely new technology approach for targeting biological agents that was created in Finland. This solution was used to block the action of the spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a study conducted at the University of Helsinki.

“Targeting this inhibitory effect of the TriSb92 molecule,” Mäkelä explains, “to a site of the coronavirus spike protein common to all variants of the virus makes it possible to effectively inhibit the ability of all known variants, Omicron included, to infect people.”

In model virus tests, TriSb92 was able to halt the spread of SARS, the virus that endangered us in the early 2000s.

“In other words, we can fairly confidently assume that future variants of SARS-CoV-2 and perhaps even entirely new coronaviruses that may threaten to cause pandemics are susceptible to it,” Mäkelä adds.

The nasally delivered substance could function as a type of biological defense against coronavirus infection sprayed on the mucous membranes in the future.

Professor Kalle Saksela also points out “these types of molecules that prevent infections, or antiviral drugs for that matter, cannot substitute for vaccines in protecting the population against the coronavirus disease.”

However, there is a pressing need for new ways to improve the protection offered by vaccines.

“Individuals whose immune system does not respond strongly enough to vaccines spring to mind in particular. Having said that, we know that new variants, especially Omicron, are capable of circumventing even effective vaccine responses worryingly well. Taken before any kind of social interaction, TriSb92 could be useful to people whose vaccine protection is insufficient for one reason or another. Depending on the epidemic situation, it could also benefit fully vaccinated individuals when administered before any situation associated with a high risk of exposure,” Saksela assesses.

Source: doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1196079/v1

Image Credit: Getty

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