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Image of nasal spray type vaccine. EPA = Yonhap News
One study found that spraying in the nose can prevent new coronavirus infection (Corona 19).
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 9th, a research team made up of scientists from several countries, including Columbia University in the United States and Erasmus Medical University in the Netherlands, sprayed a spray that prevents penetration. of Corona 19 virus in six ferrets, a type of weasel, and the infection rate was 0%. Confirmed as. The article containing this research was published on ‘Biorxiv.org’, a pre-publication site for scholarly articles.
The researchers placed a ferret infected with Corona 19 and a ferret not infected with Corona 19 in the same cage and tested it after 24 hours. As a result, ferrets sprayed on the nose did not contract Corona 19, while ferrets in the placebo group yes. He said it was done.
However, this experiment was carried out only on animals and other scientists are still reviewing the article. If humans sprayed with the same effect of preventing infection, the researchers hoped it could act as a vaccine.
The core of the spray, according to the researchers, is a specific “lipopeptide,” which are cholesterol particles formed from proteins. The lipopeptide is like a protein spike that protrudes from the surface of the Corona virus 19. Protein spikes adhere to the human body and play a role in the penetration of the corona virus 19.
In order for the viral genetic material (RNA) that causes respiratory symptoms to penetrate, the amino acids in the protein spike must split in two and then rejoin. At this time, the research team explained that lipopeptide attaches to a branch and interferes with binding.
One of the authors of the article, Mateo Porto, a microbiologist at Columbia University, said about it: “It is like trying to fill a zipper, but it is the same principle as putting a zipper that does not fit on the other side so that the original zipper don’t fit. ”
“The lipopeptide lasts for 24 hours once it is sprayed,” said Anne Moskona, who participated in the study, and “the lipopeptide lasts for 24 hours. It is safe and can be produced inexpensively.” Dr. Moscona also added: “Because it can be transported in powder form, it is relatively easy to distribute.”
Reporter Kim Ji-hye [email protected]
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