Antimicrobial peptides as predicted drug target for COIVD-19 disease by inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 spike

Negar Balmeh¹ Anasik karabedianhajiabadi² Samira Mahmoudi³ Niloofar Mohammadi⁴

1) Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Nour Danesh Institution of Higher Education, Meymeh, Iran. Email:
2) Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Islamic Azad University of Falavarjan, Falavarjan, Iran. Email:
3) Department of Microbial Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, Islamic Azad University North Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran. Email:
4) Department of Sciences and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agricultural Sciences, Payame Noor University Pir Bakran Branch, Esfahan, Iran. Email:

Publication : 2nd. International Congress on science & Engineering - paris(parisconf.com)
Abstract :
In December 2019 an outbreak called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was reported in Wuhan, China which broadcast significantly in various countries in 2020. This virus not only differs from other viruses by its genomic structure but also shares similarity with SARS and MERS coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 is being spread by human-to-human via direct contact or droplets of sneezing and coughing, and it has been estimated that after nearly 6 days the first symptoms of infection might appear. Previously, it has been revealed that angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) binding to viral spike causes virus entry into host cells and it has been suggested that if this binding inhibits, the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis will be destroyed. Based on latest studies it has been mentioned that peptides could have vital role in prevention of COVID-19 disease by their binding to viral spike. In this survey large scale of molecular docking bioinformatic were used to evaluate the feasibility of the medicinal potential of several microbial peptides, The results show that some of the peptides tested have the potential to be used as a drug for a promising treatment for COVID-19, as their binding affinity to spike is more efficient than the binding of ACE2 to viral spike. Despite the aggravation of COVID-19, currently no drugs are validated to been effective in clinical eras of COVID-19 patients. Thus, the founded peptides might be a hope for COVID-19 drug development. Although, public health society should keep monitoring the hurdle, because the more we investigate this virus, our ability to overcome the COVID-19 will increase. Therefore, experimental examination of these peptides and their confirmation can be an effective solution to deal with this severe disease.
Keywords : SARS-CoV-2 ACE2 Spike Peptide Bioinformatics Viral infection