According to a study published in the scientific journal Molecules, a chemical discovered in the venom of the Jararacussu pit viper could soon be used to combat the virus that causes COVID-19. The report suggested, a chemical generated by the Jararacussu pit viper reduced the virus's capacity to replicate in monkey cells by 75%.

“We were able to show that this component of snake venom was able to block a very essential protein from the virus," said Rafael Guido, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo and one of the study's authors. One of the largest snakes in Brazil, jararacussu, measures up to 6 feet (2 meters) long. It lives in the coastal Atlantic Forest and is also found in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina.

A peptide is a chemical produced by the jararacussu pit viper. According to Reuters, it is a chain of amino acids that connects the coronavirus's PLPro enzyme, which is essential for the virus's replication, without harming other cells.

Guido stated in an interview that peptide is recognized for its antibacterial properties and that it can be produced in the lab. “We're concerned about individuals going out to hunt jararacussu in Brazil, believing they'll rescue the world... That's not it! said Giuseppe Puorto, a herpetologist who oversees the biological collection at the Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo. “The coronavirus will not be cured by the venom itself.”

The report further said that researchers are evaluating the efficiency of different doses of the molecule and whether it is able to prevent the virus from entering cells in the first place, according to a statement from the State University of Sao Paulo (Unesp), which was also involved in the research. They hope to test the substance in human cells but gave no timeline.

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