Antimicrobial peptides as potent compounds for reduction of covid-19 infection

Abstract

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a new identified coronavirus in China, SARSCOV2. There are no efficient treatments for COVID-19. Therefore, it is essential to investigate new therapies for this problem. Due to specific mechanism for inhibition of microbial growth, antimicrobial peptides can be considered as one of the best therapies in this field. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important agents that are made by the immune system in response to pathogens. This kind of immune response exists in all animal categories from prokaryotes to humans. Different types of AMPs have been identified and isolated from various organisms from bacteria to humans. So far, 190 antiviral peptides with antiviral effects have been extracted and introduced from various animal sources. These natural compounds and their derivatives, e.g. synthetic peptides, can be considered as new therapeutic goals in COVID-19. In this review, we assessed these peptides in different animal categories as well as synthetic peptides and the possibility of using these compounds in the treatment of COVID-19.