Indian scientists discover a substance used to preserve food that is able to prevent infection with Corona
Indian researchers have discovered a molecule of a natural food preservative that may help prevent the Corona virus from attaching to cells, and according to a time now news report using computer simulations, scientists found that a natural food preservative molecule has the ability to bind strongly to the protein that the new Corona virus uses to enter human cells It may prevent infection.
The study, published in the journal Virology, indicated that a small antibacterial protein (peptide) called nisin, which is used worldwide as a safe and natural preservative, has the ability to bind to the ACE2 receptors in humans that the new Corona virus uses to enter and infect cells.
"The nisin peptide has the ability to bind to the human ACE2 receptor more efficiently than the novel coronavirus spike protein," said study co-author Swadesh Ranjan Biswas from the University of Visva-Bharati in India.
Based on the results, the scientists believe that the peptide could eliminate the interaction of the spiky protein of the novel coronavirus with the human ACE2 receptor, thus controlling the infection.
Commenting on the results, Vigneshwar Ramakrishnan, Professor of Bioinformatics at SASTRA University, said, “The food preservative nisin has the ability to bind to the hACE2 receptor, and it can competitively prevent corona virus’s attachment to human cells.” The researchers added that this substance can be stored and transported without bacterial contamination, because Nicin has a strong antimicrobial effect.
