Researchers from the United States reported that the SLR14 RNA stud, SLR14 successfully activates the production of type I interferon (the main tool of a congenital immune response) and protects against coronavirus infection. The article of scientists is published in Journal of Experimental Medicine.
The first protection line against SARS-COV-2 depends on the operation of the Rig-I receptors, which recognize the virus genetic material and launch the type of type I interferon – signal molecules, which in turn contribute to the production of proteins that overwhelm the virus replication. Therapy by interferon showed its effectiveness in reducing mortality at COVID-19, but remains very expensive.
Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine offered a cheaper alternative: to give patients with studs – elements of the secondary RNA structure – which mimic the SARS-COV-2 genetic material and activate the RIG-I receptors. Scientists tested their new trip to the treatment on the contaminated COVID-19 mice. One dose of SLR14 turned out to be sufficient to protect rodents from the severe course of the disease and death. When introducing immediately after infection, therapy was even more efficient than the treatment with interferons.
Moreover, SLR14 protected from new variants of coronavirus, including delta option. In mice with a weakened immunity, the drug was able to almost completely clean the body from the virus. According to researchers, this will allow them to treat them and sick with weakened immunity, the effectiveness of existing vaccines for which is strongly reduced.