The Combination of Bromelain and Acetylcysteine (BromAc) Synergistically Inactivates SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 13; no. 3; p. 425
• Main Authors: Akhter, Javed, Quéromès, Grégory, Pillai, Krishna, Kepenekian, Vahan, Badar, Samina, Mekkawy, Ahmed H, Frobert, Emilie, Valle, Sarah J, Morris, David L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 06.03.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: ACE2; Acetylcysteine; Acetylcysteine - pharmacology; Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; BromAc; Bromelain; Bromelains - pharmacology; Cell culture; Chemical bonds; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - drug therapy; COVID-19 - virology; Disulfide bonds; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; drug repurposing; Drug Synergism; Glycoproteins; Humans; Infections; Infectivity; Intranasal administration; Mucosa; Pandemics; Proteins; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - drug effects; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; SARS-CoV-2 - growth & development; SARS-CoV-2 - metabolism; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Spike glycoprotein; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - genetics; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus - metabolism; Viral envelope proteins; Virus Inactivation - drug effects; Viruses; Australia; United States > US; Acetylcysteine; Bromelain; SARS-CoV-2; BromAc; drug repurposing
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v13030425

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is the cause of a worldwide pandemic, currently with limited therapeutic options. The spike glycoprotein and envelope protein of SARS-CoV-2, containing disulfide bridges for stabilization, represent an attractive target as they are essential for binding to the ACE2 receptor in host cells present in the nasal mucosa. Bromelain and Acetylcysteine (BromAc) has synergistic action against glycoproteins by breakage of glycosidic linkages and disulfide bonds. We sought to determine the effect of BromAc on the spike and envelope proteins and its potential to reduce infectivity in host cells. Recombinant spike and envelope SARS-CoV-2 proteins were disrupted by BromAc. Spike and envelope protein disulfide bonds were reduced by Acetylcysteine. In in vitro whole virus culture of both wild-type and spike mutants, SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated a concentration-dependent inactivation from BromAc treatment but not from single agents. Clinical testing through nasal administration in patients with early SARS-CoV-2 infection is imminent.