Brazilian researchers have found that a molecule in the venom of a snake species inhibits the replication of coronavirus in monkey cells, possibly the first step towards a drug to fight the virus that causes COVID-19.. The Daily Sabah writes about it..

A study published this month in the scientific journal Molecules found that a molecule produced by the Hararakussu viper inhibits the ability of the virus to replicate in monkey cells by 75%..

“We were able to show that this component of snake venom is able to inhibit a very important protein of the virus,” said Rafael Guido, professor at the University of Sao Paulo and author of the study..

The molecule is a peptide or chain of amino acids that can bind to a coronavirus enzyme called PLPro, which is vital for the virus to replicate without damaging other cells..

This peptide, already known for its antibacterial properties, can be synthesized in the lab, Guido said in an interview, making it unnecessary to capture or raise snakes..

The researchers plan to evaluate the effectiveness of different doses of the molecule and whether they can prevent the virus from entering cells in the first place, according to a statement from the State University of Sao Paulo (Unesp), which also participated in the study..

They hope to test this substance on human cells, but did not give a date..

Hararacussu is one of the largest snakes in Brazil, its length reaches 2 meters. It lives in the coastal Atlantic forests, and is also found in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina..

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