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Important research of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University: Ganoderma Microsporum immunomodulatory protein, GMI, exhibits the biological function for preventing COVID-19

Important research of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University: Ganoderma Microsporum immunomodulatory protein, GMI, exhibits the biological function for preventing COVID-19

Associate Professor Lin has been engaged in the research of Lin-Zhi (靈芝) proteins for many years. The Herbal Foundation Compendium (本草綱目) records that Lin-Zhi “replenish the lung Qi (益肺氣)” which shows the certain effects of Ganoderma lucidum on the lungs. Professor Lin believes that Ganoderma lucidum may play a pivotal role in the COVID-19. In this study, GMI, a novel protein isolated from Ganoderma microsporum in Taiwan, exhibits high potential in preventing COVID-19. To study the effects of GMI in SARS-CoV-2 infection, Assistant Professor Tsai had created a SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped virus to mimic the infection in ACE2-expressing host cells. The findings showed that GMI effectively inhibits the infection of SARS-CoV-2 by affecting the host cells. This finding has been published in “Phytomedicine”, a reputable international journal in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Increasing evidence shows that the ACE2 protein in the host cells would bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2, causing the virus to infect the host cells. The research team showed that GMI could prevent virus infection in two ways. For viruses, GMI could interact with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus to interfere with the binding activity of the virus and the host cells. For the host cells, GMI induces the endocytosis of ACE2 on the host cells, leading to the induction of ACE2 degradation. Taken together, GMI not only affects the host cells but also binds to the virus, leading to the alleviation of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection in the host cells.

The research team found that GMI not only interfered with the virus binding to the host cells but also reduced the virus infection. This finding has won the gold medallion award of the Moscow International Salon of Inventions and Innovative Technologies ARCHIMEDES competition. Currently, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still mutating continuously. Using the scientific-based evidence to identify the safe ingredients by Chinese pharmacopoeia could be a complementary epidemic prevention strategy.

The research team also emphasized that during the epidemic outbreak, GMI could be used for daily health care as a dietary supplement, while more clinical and basic research are still required to confirm its efficacy. Therefore, it is recommended that people should follow the government policies or consult doctors to prevent COVID-19.

The research team found that GMI not only interfered with the virus binding to the host cells but also reduced the virus infection. This finding has won the gold medallion award of the Moscow International Salon of Inventions and Innovative Technologies ARCHIMEDES competition. Currently, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still mutating continuously. Using the scientific-based evidence to identify the safe ingredients by Chinese pharmacopoeia could be a complementary epidemic prevention strategy.

【report】