ReviewBiological trace element research2024
The Possible Mechanisms of Cu and Zn in the Treatment and Prevention of HIV and COVID-19 Viral Infection.
Review in Biological trace element research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Antiviral Potential of Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles: Integrated In Vitro and In Silico Study.Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Cu(I)-N-Heterocyclic carbenes as potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication.Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine · 2026Article
- Trace Elements and Viral Infectious Diseases: Dual Roles in Pathogenesis and Immunity.Infectious disease reports · 2026Review
- Cosmic silence and viral noise: transcriptomic crosstalk inFrontiers in microbiology · 2026Article
- Copper nanoparticles as a novel therapeutic approach for canine distemper virus: Clinical, hematological, and biochemical evidence from naturally infected dogs.Veterinary world · 2025Article
- Exploration of the antiviral mechanism of gypsum-licorice compatibility pairing in Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan decoction from the perspective of metal-organic supramolecular interactions.Frontiers in medical technology · 2025Article
- Engineering copper and copper-based materials for a post-antibiotic era.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025Review
- The Role of Vitamins, Magnesium, and Trace Elements in COVID-19 Treatment and Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation: An Updated Overview.Current medicinal chemistry · 2025Review
- DLD is a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19 infection in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death · 2024Article
- Biochemical Behavior, Influence on Cell DNA Condition, and Microbiological Properties of Wool and Wool-Copper Materials.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Due to their unique properties and their potential therapeutic and prophylactic applications, heavy metals have attracted the interest of many researchers, especially during the outbreak of COVID-19. Indeed, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) have been widely used during viral infections. Zn has been reported to prevent excessive inflammatory response and cytokine storm, improve the response of the virus to Type I interferon (IFN-1), and enhance the production of IFN-a to counteract the antagonistic effect of SARS-CoV-2 virus protein on IFN. Additionally, Zn has been found to promote the proliferation and differentiation of T and B lymphocytes, thereby improving immune function, inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) in SARS- CoV-2 reducing the viral replication and stabilizing the cell membrane by preventing the proteolytic processing of viral polyprotein and proteases enzymes. Interestingly, Zn deficiency has been correlated with enhanced SARS-CoV-2 viral entry through interaction between the ACE2 receptor and viral spike protein. Along with zinc, Cu possesses strong virucidal capabilities and is known to be effective at neutralizing a variety of infectious viruses, including the poliovirus, influenza virus, HIV type 1, and other enveloped or nonenveloped, single- or double-stranded DNA and RNA viruses. Cu-related antiviral action has been linked to different pathways. First, it may result in permanent damage to the viral membrane, envelopes, and genetic material of viruses. Second, Cu produces reactive oxygen species to take advantage of the redox signaling mechanism to eradicate the virus. The present review focused on Zn and Cu in the treatment and prevention of viral infection. Moreover, the application of metals such as Cu and gold in nanotechnology for the development of antiviral therapies and vaccines has been also discussed.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.