THE EFFICACY OF LUCILIA SERICATA LARVAE SECRETION AGAINST SARS-COV-2: A QUANTITATIVE PCR STUDY

Abstract

Background: The lack of information about the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) makes it difficult to fight against it. The research about potential molecules that can be used to treat the SARS-CoV-2 continues all over the world. This study aimed to make a preliminary research on the possible effects of Lucilia sericata (L. sericata) larval secretion on the SARS-CoV-2, which has been used to treat chronic or infected wounds and shown to have antiviral effects. Methods: L. sericata larval secretion was applied to the pharyngeal swab samples of the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, and the specimens were analyzed with the quantitative PCR method. The average Relative Fluorescence Unit (RFU) and Cycle Threshold (Ct) values were compared to the control group of positive specimens from the same patients without the application of larval secretion. Results: SARS-CoV-2 remained positive in the samples of the control group, while all samples in the experimental group were found to be negative. The difference between the average RFU and Ct values were found statistically significant (Control group: 752, Larvae group: 0) indicating that L. sericata larval secretion caused the lysis of SARS-CoV-2 and its RNA molecules. Conclusion: Revealing the antiviral effect of L. sericata larval secretion on SARS-CoV-2 can provide a basis for conducting further cell-culture studies, which might lead to developing an inexpensive substance that can help to fight against SARS-CoV-2.