ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2024
Insights on the Mechanical Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Particles and the Effects of the Photosensitizer Hypericin.
Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Viruses under mechanical force: Implications and applications.Virus research · 2026Review
- Ultrasound effectively destabilizes and disrupts the structural integrity of enveloped respiratory viruses.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Membrane-Targeting Antivirals.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Structural elucidation of Langat virus helicase unveils dual-target inhibition for broad-spectrum anti-flaviviruses strategy.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a highly pathogenic virus responsible for the COVID-19 disease. It belongs to the Coronaviridae family, characterized by a phospholipid envelope, which is crucial for viral entry and replication in host cells. Hypericin, a lipophilic, naturally occurring photosensitizer, was reported to effectively inactivate enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, upon light irradiation. In addition to its photodynamic activity, Hyp was found to exert an antiviral action also in the dark. This study explores the mechanical properties of heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 viral particles using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Results reveal a flexible structure under external stress, potentially contributing to the virus pathogenicity. Although the fixation protocol causes damage to some particles, correlation with fluorescence demonstrates colocalization of partially degraded virions with their genome. The impact of hypericin on the mechanical properties of the virus was assessed and found particularly relevant in dark conditions. These preliminary results suggest that hypericin can affect the mechanical properties of the viral envelope, an effect that warrants further investigation in the context of antiviral therapies.
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Registered trials
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