نبذة مختصرة : Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses infecting mammals and birds. Four coronaviruses causing mild diseases, like common cold, have been described in human, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1. During the last two decades, three new, highly pathogenic coronaviruses have been identified the SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom) in 2003, the MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) in 2012 and recently the SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019. The COVID-19 global outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2, highlighted the lack of specific antiviral available against this family of virus. The team of Dr Karin SERON from the Cellular and Molecular Virology laboratory of the Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, is specialized in the identification of antiviral compounds from natural origin. Indeed, plants are a source of natural therapeutic compounds and many plants are still being used in traditional medicine. The aim of my thesis was to identify natural antiviral agents against highly pathogenic human coronaviruses with the help of the knowledge and tools developed by the laboratory. My first project was carried out in collaboration with the group of Dr Simon Bordage from the Pharmacognosy laboratory of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Lille directed by Pr Sevser Sahpaz. Plant extracts from Ivorian plants used it traditional medicine were tested against the coronavirus HCoV-229E and we selected the most active, the Mallotus oppositifollius extract. After bio-guided fractionation, the active compound was isolated and characterized, the pheophorbide a (Pba). Pba is able to inhibit the infection of HCoV-229E and highly pathogenic coronaviruses MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 (IC50 = 0.18 μM) as well as other enveloped viruses using a photo-dynamic inactivation mechanism. Pba targets the viral envelop and inhibits the fusion step. Pba is the first described natural antiviral against SARS-CoV-2 with direct photosensitive virucidal activity. This molecule could potentially be used in therapy or as disinfectant. My second project ...
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