Thapsigargin is a natural chemical found in the plant Thapsia garganica, a flowering perennial in the carrot family. One response to the COVID-19 pandemic was intense exploration for new antivirals. The antiviral activity of thapsigargin was consequently reassessed and demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral effects.
While it did not become one of the go-to drugs for COVID infections, the global pig industry also suffers the effects of several coronaviruses, so it could have potential use there. In addition to the loss of marketable animals and financial hardships, there is always the risk of cross-species transmission leading to human infection. The unceasing emergence of mutant strains puts limitations on the effectiveness of the available vaccines. Therefore, the use of antiviral drugs in combination with vaccinations has become the go-to strategy to increase the survival rate of the animals.
To assess the effect of thapsigargin for the pig industry, the porcine coronavirus known as transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) was chosen. Piglets were first orally infected with the TGEV virus, then given thapsigargin at 1 hour and 12 hours post-infection. The animals were checked at 0, 12, and 24 hours post-infection for viral shedding. After 24 hours, the animals were euthanized and the intestinal tissues were collected and evaluated.
The results of the tissue tests showed that the infection was suppressed by the thapsigargin treatment. However, there were also concerning signs of the impact of side effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa. While this compound certainly shows potential for controlling viral infections, further evaluation should be undertaken to improve our understanding.
Li Y, Liu Y, Zhang Y, et al. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of thapsigargin as an antiviral agent against transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Vet Res. 2024 Aug 2;55(1):97. PMID: 39095890