Strigolactones as broad-spectrum antivirals against β-coronaviruses through targeting the main protease mpro

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the likelihood thatnew coronavirusstrains will emerge in the immediate future point out the urgent needto identify new pan-coronavirus inhibitors. Strigolactones (SLs) area class of plant hormones with multifaceted activities whose rolesin plant-related fields have been extensively explored. Recently,we proved that SLs also exert antiviral activity toward herpesviruses,such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Here we show that the syntheticSLs TH-EGO and EDOT-EGO impair & beta;-coronavirus replication includingSARS-CoV-2 and the common cold human coronavirus HCoV-OC43. Interestingly, in silico simulations suggest the binding of SLs in theSARS-CoV-2 main protease (M-pro) active site, and this wasfurther confirmed by an in vitro activity assay.Overall, our results highlight the potential efficacy of SLs as broad-spectrumantivirals against & beta;-coronaviruses, which may provide the rationalefor repurposing this class of hormones for the treatment of COVID-19patients.