Marine Sponge-Derived Secondary Metabolites Modulate SARS-CoV-2 Entry
        Mechanisms

Charlotte Steenblock; Stefanie Richter; Dirk Lindemann; Hermann Ehrlich; Stefan R. Bornstein; Nicole Bechmann

doi:10.1055/a-2173-0277

Hormone and Metabolic Research, Table of Contents

Horm Metab Res 2024; 56(04): 308-317
DOI: 10.1055/a-2173-0277

Original Article: Endocrine Research

Marine Sponge-Derived Secondary Metabolites Modulate SARS-CoV-2 Entry Mechanisms

Charlotte Steenblock

¹Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

,

Stefanie Richter

²Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

,

Dirk Lindemann

²Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

,

Hermann Ehrlich

³Center for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland

,

Stefan R. Bornstein

¹Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

⁴School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

⁵Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and University of Zurich (UZH), Zürich, Switzerland

,

Nicole Bechmann

⁶Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The emergence of SARS-CoV 2 caused the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in numerous global infections and deaths. In particular, people with metabolic diseases display an increased risk of severe COVID 19 and a fatal outcome. Treatment options for severe cases are limited, and the appearance of new virus variants complicates the development of novel therapies. To better manage viral infections like COVID 19, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Marine sponges offer a natural and renewable source of unique bioactive agents. These sponges produce secondary metabolites with various effects, including anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumorigenic properties. In the current study, we investigated the effect of five different marine sponge-derived secondary metabolites (four bromotyrosines and one sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone). Two of these, Avarol and Acetyl-dibromoverongiaquinol reduced the expression of ACE2, the main receptor for SARS-CoV 2, and the alternative receptor NRP1. Moreover, these substances derived from sponges demonstrated the ability to diminish the virus titer in SARS-CoV 2-infected cells, especially concerning the Omicron lineage. However, the reduction was not substantial enough to expect a significant impact on infected humans. Consequently, the investigated sponge-derived secondary metabolites are not likely to be effective to treat COVID 19 as a stand-alone therapy.

Key words

marine sponges - Aplysina cavernicola - COVID-19 - SARS-CoV-2 - viral infections - bromotyrosines

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material