Guilherme Wildner

Mr. Guilherme Wildner


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 July 2023 in Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
GWGuilherme Wildner
Guilherme Wildner
ATAmanda Resende Tucci
Amanda Resende Tucci
APAlessandro de Souza Prestes
Alessandro de Souza Prestes
TMTalise Muller
Talise Muller
ARAlice dos Santos Rosa
Alice dos Santos Rosa
NBNilda Vargas Barbosa
Nilda Vargas Barbosa
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global public health problem. Despite the numerous studies for drug repurposing, there are only two FDA-approved antiviral agents (Remdesivir and Nirmatrelvir) for non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Consequently, it is pivotal to search for new molecules with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and to study their effects in the human immune system. Ebselen (Eb) is an organoselenium compound that is safe for humans and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Diphenyl diselenide ((PhSe)2) shares several pharmacological properties with Eb and is of low toxicity to mammals. Herein, we investigated Eb and (PhSe)2 anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in a human pneumocytes cell model (Calu-3) and analyzed their toxic effects on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Both compounds significantly inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 replication in Calu-3 cells. The EC50 values for Eb and (PhSe)2 after 24 h post-infection (hpi) were 3.8 µM and 3.9 µM, respectively, and after 48 hpi were 2.6 µM and 3.4 µM. These concentrations are safe for non-infected cells, since the CC50 values found for Eb and (PhSe)2 on Calu-3 were greater than 200 µM. Importantly, the concentration rates tested on viral replication were not toxic to human PBMCs. Therefore, our findings reinforce the efficacy of Eb and demonstrate (PhSe)2 as a new candidate to be tested in future trials against SARS-CoV-2 infection/inflammation conditions.