Nanoparticle tracking analysis and Western blotting confirmed the purity of the SARS-CoV2 preparation, while targeted lipidomics revealed that the membrane was a PL-rich membrane composed primarily of PE, PC, and PI
Scientists at Cardiff University have detailed the molecular makeup of the new coronavirus' fatty outer membrane for the first time, saying it could prove to be an important new target for antiviral drugs
The team's study of the viral lipid envelope showed that it differs significantly from healthy host cell membranes, suggesting that it has the potential to be selectively targeted
The study was published today in the Journal of Lipid Research
Professor Valerie O'Donnell, a lipid biochemist at Cardiff University School of Medicine and co-author of the study, said: "While vaccines and antivirals target proteins or the replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2, so far Until now, there has been very little research on lipid envelopes
"Our research has mapped this important viral component -- in fact, very little has been done on the lipid envelope of any virus so far
The Cardiff team used mass spectrometry to create a detailed map of the lipid envelope and found that it consists mostly of phospholipids but very little cholesterol, unlike host cell membranes
As part of the same study, they conducted a small-scale clinical trial in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 to test whether oral rinses containing surfactant-based lipid-interfering chemicals could reduce infectivity in the mouth
In this trial, 27 hospitalized patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 were given one of four different types of oral rinses, two containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), one Contains povidone-iodine and the other contains saline
The most effective approach was a 30-second flush with CPC and isopropyl saponin in seven patients, which eliminated 99.
Other formulations containing compounds, such as povidone-iodine or saline, had little to no effect, while rinses containing CPC and parabens showed no lasting effect, suggesting the formulation was "key
Co-author of the study, Professor Richard Stanton, from Cardiff University School of Medicine, said: "The results of our clinical trial suggest that a specially formulated oral mouthwash can target the lipid envelope
"Our findings suggest that certain mouthwashes may play a role in limiting exposure to COVID-19 in healthcare settings, for example, destroying the virus so that there is enough time for dental or oral exams
Study co-author Professor David Thomas, from Cardiff University's School of Dentistry, said: "There is a need for larger clinical trials and population-based studies to determine whether oral rinses are effective in practice against COVID-19.
"We encourage people to use mouthwash safely at all times in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines
An important caveat, the researchers said, is that mouthwashes cannot target any viruses in the lower respiratory tract, and it is unclear whether the virus transmitted to others came from the upper or lower respiratory tract
Provided by Cardiff University