Use of Antimicrobial Peptides Against SARS-CoV-2

Today is the Future

Retracted

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), α- and β-defensins and cathelicidin LL-37, possess antiviral properties. These AMPs achieve viral inhibition through a diverse array of mechanisms. For example, they can bind directly to virions; they can bind to and modulate host cell-surface receptors, which disrupts intracellular signaling; and they can function as chemokines to augment and alter adaptive immune responses. Given their antiviral properties, and the fact that the development of an effective coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment is an urgent public health priority, they and their derivatives are being explored as potential therapies against COVID-19. These explorations are being carried out using a variety of strategies, ranging from their direct interaction with the virus to using them as vaccine adjuvants. So far, these strategies are showing promising results. However, AMPs do not work in isolation, specifically in their role as potent immune modulators, where they interact with toll-like receptors (TLRs) and chemokine receptors. Both of these receptors have been shown to play roles in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Therefore, including information on the interactions among all these players would produce a more complete picture of the response to AMP-based therapies.