Materials and methods for inhibiting a viral infection, including a coronavirus infection
The subject invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting viral infections. Preferred embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions, and the methods of using the same, comprising a strain of Lactobacillus fermentum bacterium, or bioactive extracts thereof.
1 . A self-decontaminating surface having antiviral properties wherein said surface comprises a composition comprising an isolated bioactive Lactobacillus fermentum bacterial strain grown as biofilm; wherein the Lactobacillus fermentum strain is Lactobacillus fermentum Qi6 having Accession No. PTA-122195, and wherein the surface is cloth, textile, metal, ceramic, or wood.
2 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the virus is an RNA virus.
3 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 2 , wherein the virus is a coronavirus.
4 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 2 , wherein the coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2.
5 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 2 , wherein the coronavirus is SARS-COV.
6 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 2 , wherein the coronavirus is MERS-COV.
7 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the surface is cloth.
8 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the surface is textile.
9 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the surface is metal.
10 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the surface is ceramic.
11 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the surface is wood.
12 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial strain has been grown as a biofilm in culture, and then applied to the surface.
13 . The self-decontaminating surface of claim 1 , wherein the biofilm on the surface does not comprise any living cells.