Brilacidin Demonstrates Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 in Cell Culture.

Bakovic A, Risner K, Bhalla N, Alem F, Chang TL, Weston WK, Harness JA, Narayanan A

Viruses9 Feb 2021Cited by 45 (Europe PMC)

PMID33572467PMCIDPMC7916214DOI10.3390/v13020271PepBankPUB-33572467

Summary

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the newly emergent causative agent of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), has resulted in more than two million deaths worldwide since it was first detected in 2019. There is a critical global need for therapeutic intervention strategies that can be deployed to safely treat COVID-19 disease and reduce associated morbidity and mortality. Increasing evidence shows that both natural and synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also referred to as Host Defense Proteins/Peptides (HDPs), can inhibit SARS-CoV-2, paving the way for the potential clinical use of these molecules as therapeutic options. In this manuscript, we describe the potent antiviral activity exerted by brilacidin-a de novo designed synthetic small molecule that captures the biological properties of HDPs-on SARS-CoV-2 in a human lung cell line (Calu-3) and a monkey cell line (Vero). These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 inhibition in these cell culture models is likely to be a result of the impact of brilacidin on viral entry and its disruption of viral integrity. Brilacidin demonstrated synergistic antiviral activity when combined with remdesivir. Collectively, our data demonstrate that brilacidin exerts potent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 against different strains of the virus in cell culture.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01LabIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
In Calu-3 and Vero cells, brilacidin showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.
In plain wordsIn lab tests with human and monkey cells, brilacidin showed activity against SARS-CoV-2.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
DecreaseSARS-CoV-2 inhibition
Study
n: not reported in source
Calu-3 and Vero cells
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
In this manuscript, we describe the potent antiviral activity exerted by brilacidin-a de novo designed synthetic small molecule that captures the biological properties of HDPs-on SARS-CoV-2 in a human lung cell line (Calu-3) and a monkey cell line (Vero).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3357246701
02LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In cell cultures, SARS-CoV-2 inhibition likely involved brilacidin effects on viral entry.
In plain wordsIn cells, brilacidin likely inhibited SARS-CoV-2 partly through effects on viral entry.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
DecreaseViral entry
Study
n: not reported in source
Calu-3 and Vero cells
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 inhibition in these cell culture models is likely to be a result of the impact of brilacidin on viral entry and its disruption of viral integrity.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this manuscript, we describe the potent antiviral activity exerted by brilacidin-a de novo designed synthetic small molecule that captures the biological properties of HDPs-on SARS-CoV-2 in a human lung cell line (Calu-3) and a monkey cell line (Vero).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3357246702
03LabIn vitro (cells)Mechanism
In cell cultures, SARS-CoV-2 inhibition likely involved brilacidin disruption of viral integrity.
In plain wordsIn cells, brilacidin likely inhibited SARS-CoV-2 partly by disrupting the virus.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
DecreaseViral integrity
Study
n: not reported in source
Calu-3 and Vero cells
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 inhibition in these cell culture models is likely to be a result of the impact of brilacidin on viral entry and its disruption of viral integrity.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this manuscript, we describe the potent antiviral activity exerted by brilacidin-a de novo designed synthetic small molecule that captures the biological properties of HDPs-on SARS-CoV-2 in a human lung cell line (Calu-3) and a monkey cell line (Vero).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3357246703

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Brilacidin.

04LabNot a test of Brilacidin aloneIn vitro (cells)Activity measurement
In cell cultures, brilacidin combined with remdesivir showed synergistic antiviral activity.
In plain wordsIn cells, brilacidin combined with remdesivir showed synergistic antiviral activity.
Peptide
Brilacidin
Outcome
DecreaseRemdesivir synergy
Study
n: not reported in source
Calu-3 and Vero cells
Outcome group
Antiviral activity · Infection
Source sentences
Summary
Brilacidin demonstrated synergistic antiviral activity when combined with remdesivir.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this manuscript, we describe the potent antiviral activity exerted by brilacidin-a de novo designed synthetic small molecule that captures the biological properties of HDPs-on SARS-CoV-2 in a human lung cell line (Calu-3) and a monkey cell line (Vero).
In this study, Brilacidin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Brilacidin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3357246704

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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