American scientists from the Scripps Institute have found that a remedy for worms can be a promising cure for COVID-19. The research results are published in the scientific journal ACS Infectious Disease.
Salicylanilides have been shown to be able to prevent coronavirus infection from entering cells, as well as to fight the cytokine storm. Most likely, salicylanilide will cope with new COVID-19 mutations. However, it has not yet been tested in humans. “It has been known for 10-15 years that salicylanilides are effective against certain viruses. However, the area of action is usually limited to the intestines, and drugs can also be toxic, “- explained the lead author of the study, Kim Janda.
When the coronavirus began to spread, Janda decided to find out how effective salicylanilides would be against SARS-CoV-2. One of the compounds in the study was found to be the most effective. It interfered with the infection of cell cultures. The compound lowered levels of interleukin-6, a signaling protein known to be a key factor in inflammation commonly seen in the late stages of COVID-19.
Earlier, scientists from the University of South Carolina reported that the serum level of the amino alcohol sphingosine can predict in what form a patient will undergo coronavirus infection. Experts have tested about 400 blood serum samples from healthy people and patients who have been ill with COVID-19 in varying degrees of severity. They found that elevated concentrations of sphingosine, as well as a protein that is involved in its production, acid ceramidase (AC), are associated with asymptomatic infections.
