You will need a flashlight for treatment
The class of molecules photosensitizing antivirals, which have antiviral activity against the most malicious viruses of our time, such as influenza, herpes, tick-borne encephalitis and the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, were discovered by specialists from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov RAS. High antiviral activity was found in photoactive organic dyes.
As reported to “MK” in the IBCh RAS, studies have shown that many photoactive molecules have a wide spectrum of antiviral action and are able to fight almost all enveloped viruses, which include influenza, coronavirus and many other viruses. The principle of operation is that the molecules generate singlet (active) oxygen, which oxidizes the membranes of virions (viral particles). This oxidation renders the virion unable to fuse with the cells of the body and thus multiply. The research is carried out jointly with colleagues from the Federal Research Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations. M.P. Chumakov RAS, N.I. A.A. Smorodintsev and the Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov.
The creation of the drug itself based on molecules is still very far away, but their discoverers hope that it would be possible to create a universal prophylactic agent against viruses. Actually, the medicine will not work out of it, since the molecules begin to fight the virus only in visible light, and inside our body, where, as a rule, virions begin to multiply, it is always dark. Therefore, the “battlefield” for exposed molecules can only be one where light enters – that is, the throat or nasal sinuses. To enhance the effect, users of the future spray or drops will need to illuminate their throat or nose, for example, with an ordinary flashlight from the phone. This will help the prophylactic agent to quickly neutralize viruses.
Newspaper headline:
Antiviral molecule needs a flashlight
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