
==== Front
bioRxiv
BIORXIV
bioRxiv
2692-8205
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

10.1101/2024.09.11.612487
preprint
1
Article
Electromagnetic waves destabilize the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and reduce SARS-CoV-2 Virus-Like Particle (SC2-VLP) infectivity
Granatir Skyler
Acosta Francisco M. http://orcid.org/0009-0003-4896-4036

Pantoja Christina http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9363-1412

Tailor Johann http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1883-4284

Fuori Angus http://orcid.org/0009-0006-9987-4112

Dower Bill
Marr Henry http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2498-9752

Ramirez Peter W. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2388-9140

12 9 2024
2024.09.11.612487https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
http://biorxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.1101/2024.09.11.612487
nihpp-2024.09.11.612487.pdf
Abstract

Infection and transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to pose a global public health concern. Using electromagnetic waves represents an alternative strategy to inactivate pathogenic viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and reduce overall transmission. However, whether electromagnetic waves reduce SARS-CoV-2 infectivity is unclear. Here, we adapted a coplanar waveguide (CPW) to identify electromagnetic waves that could neutralize SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (SC2-VLPs). Treatment of SC2-VLPs, particularly at frequencies between 2.5-3.5 GHz at an electric field of 400 V/m for 2 minutes, reduced infectivity. Exposure to a frequency of 3.1 GHz decreased the binding of SC2-VLPs to antibodies directed against the Spike S1 subunit receptor binding domain (RBD). These results suggest that electromagnetic waves alter the conformation of Spike, thereby reducing viral attachment to host cell receptors. Overall, this data provides proof-of-concept in using electromagnetic waves for sanitation and prevention efforts to curb the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other pathogenic enveloped viruses.
==== Body
pmc
