CHEARS

Ivermectin is an Semisynthetic Anti - Helmintic agent. It was an In-vitro study which showed that single treatment can affect 5000 fold reduction in virus within 48hrs.

Recent studies have shown that Ivermectin also has anti-viral property too which is effective against

• HIV

• DENGUE

• SIMIAN VIRUS

• ZIKA VIRUS

• INFLUENZA VIRUS

• SARS-CoV-2

What Happens When SARS-Co-2 enters into HOST CELL?

• SARS-Co-2 has RNA in it. On the RNA of the virus there are multiple protein molecules among them one is S-Spike protein.

• This protein molecule is very important because it helps the virus to get attached to human cell receptors.

• The Human Cell Surface contains a receptor named ACE-2 receptor.

• To this ACE-2 receptor the spike protein will get attached and undergo endocytosis to enter into the cell.

• The Endosome which consists of viral RNA is now released into the cytosol.

• Then this RNA enters into RIBOSOME and starts making different protein molecules.

• These protein molecules are nothing but different structural proteins of the virus.

• The initial protein made by the ribosome has a very long polypeptide chain.

• These long polypeptides are broken down into Functional proteins.

• Sometimes the viral RNA uses an enzyme called RNA dependent RNA Polymerase to synthesize more RNA molecules.

• The cell has Nucleus consisting of DNA molecules. Every nucleated cell has a DNA that codes for Anti-viral properties.

• The viral protein enters into Nucleus to deactivate the antiviral property of DNA and enhances viral spread.

• But the viral protein cannot enter the nucleus directly; they need some special carrier molecules for transportation.

• Importin α and Importin β1 hetero dimers are the special carrier molecules.

• The SARS-Co-2 virus protein present in the cytoplasm attaches to the Importin forming a complex and gets transferred through the Nuclear pore complex and enters into the host nucleus.

• In the nucleus the complex gets separated, the viral protein now inhibits the DNA Antiviral activity responses leading to increase in the infection.

How does Ivermectin work in SARS-Co-2?

• After giving Ivermectin it enters into the host cell and binds to importin and destabilize the Hetero dimer.

• So now the viral protein cannot bind with the importin molecule and cannot enter the host cell nucleus.

• This results in maintenance of the Antiviral property of DNA.

Side effects associated with IVERMECTIN.

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Muscle pain

• Nausea

• Diarrhoea