The researchers believe that their achievement is a promising first step towards the invention of medicine.

A group of scientists from the Jagiellonian University Polish Krakow stated that he had found a tool that slows down the infection with the new coronavirus-type SARS-CoV-2. It is reported by the Polish press Agency (PAP).

The researchers believe that their achievement is a promising first step towards the invention of medicine. “We have developed the substance of the innovation world level,” said virologist Professor Krzysztof Pyrc. The invention is a chemical compound called HTCC. It is reported that it affects not only SARS-CoV-2, but also on MERS-CoV pathogen middle East respiratory syndrome, which emerged in Saudi Arabia in the fall of 2012.

Now Polish scientists expect to start clinical trials of their tools. HTCC patented and previously tested on animals, permission to use people have not yet been received. In rodents, this substance did not cause deterioration in the function of the respiratory system and did not demonstrate toxicity.

The polymer compound HTCC was created based on chitosan obtained from shrimp or mushrooms. The researchers showed that this polymer binds to the protein spike, which form a “crown” of the virus and blocks its interaction with the receptor cells and, as a result, with the virus entering the cell.

The work was carried out using standard cell models, but also an advanced system for simulating a fully differentiated epithelium of the human respiratory system. “This is one of the most successful models” — the authors of the study.

Recall: the number of infected COVID-19 around the world exceeded 1.2 million people.