Study: Brazilian Viper’s Venom Could Stop Coronavirus From Multiplying

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A new study suggests that venom from a poisonous Brazilian snake’s venom could be used as a tool in the fight against coronavirus.

Brazilian researchers discovered that a molecule in the venom of the jararacussu pit viper, one of the largest snakes in Brazil, slowed down the reproduction of coronavirus in monkey cell, reducing the disease’s ability to multiply by 75%. The researchers findings were published in the scientific journal Molecules.

Rafael Guido, a scientist involved in the research, said that: “We were able to show that that component of the snake’s venom was able to inhibit a very important protein of the virus.

“It’s the first step in a long journey… the process is a very long one.”.

The jararacussu can grow up to 2m (6ft) long and is found in Brazil, the coastal Atlantic Forest, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.

Mr Guido added that scientists are “afraid people will go hunting for the jararacussu all over Brazil, thinking it will save the world or themselves, their family”.

He said: “That’s not the case. Is this an important discovery? Without a doubt it is, but chasing after the animal is not how it will be resolved.”

“The component that was discovered is just a fraction from inside the venom, it is not the venom itself that will cure coronavirus at this time.” Guido added that researchers did not need to take the venom from snakes as they can synthesize the peptide in a lab.

Researchers will next evaluate the efficiency of different doses of the molecule and whether it can prevent the virus from entering cells in the first place, according to a statement from the State University of Sao Paulo (Unesp), which was also involved in the research.

They hope to test the substance in human cells but gave no time frame for such trials.