University of Illinois, Army researchers create protein decoy as potential COVID-19 treatment

Scientists from the University of Illinois and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) have designed and tested a decoy protein capable of tricking SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — and could potentially lead to a treatment.

Their results, published in the journal SCIENCE earlier this month, revealed a protein meant to resemble ACE2, a protein from various cell surfaces that generates smaller proteins to regulate certain cell functions. ACE2 acts as a sort of receptor for SARS-CoV-2, which binds to that protein before entering and infecting cells. Therefore, the decoy — developed by Dr. Erik Procko and other University of Illinois Scientists — tricks the virus into binding to it before attacking the real thing.

Procko also found a combination of three mutations that made that decoy a more attractive target than ACE2.

When USAMRIID became involved, scientists moved on to testing the receptor in cells using live doses of SARS-CoV-2. The military team found that the decoy receptor offered potent neutralizing capabilities against SARS-CoV-2, at least as good as the best antibodies currently known. As a bonus, it also neutralized SARS-CoV-1, a closely related virus.

“Once we confirmed neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2, it made sense to test for pan-coronavirus activity against other coronaviruses that also use ACE2 to enter cells,” Dr. Andrew Herbert, a USAMRIID scientist from The Geneva Foundation, said.

While additional research will be required to determine the receptor’s capabilities as a treatment for or preventative against COVID-19 and similar diseases, it’s a promising start. Going forward, the team intends to pursue funding for animal studies.