CoViRCure– An Immunoprotective Oral Supplement for Reducing COVID-19 Post-Hyperimmunity Period Immune Suppression

COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, induces a hyperimmune response (cytokine storm) upon infection that often leads to hyperinflammation and immunosuppression. During the immunosuppression, the body is susceptible to other infections, which potentially increase mortality rates. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the military’s cumulative hospitalization rate (2%) is 50 times higher than the non-military. After COVID-19 hospitalization or recovery, soldiers or civilians can suffer secondary infections that can be prevented by dietary oral supplements or drugs. An oral dietary supplement, having immunomodulatory action against cytokine storm as well as reducing immunosuppression after COVID-19 infection, is a novel treatment approach. In this context, the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor (S1PR) pathway can be modulated by dietary compounds like vitamin D and beneficial fatty acids to improve overall immunity post-viral infection. Also, this supplement must have all the essential, measurable components found in the blood of prolonged or short recovery COVID-19 patients. The supplement must have a measurably positive outcome on reducing immunosuppression and improving the recovery rate from COVID-19. NGL will incorporate these criteria in developing a safe, stable, and readily available acylated chitosan encapsulated vitamin D, beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids (C20:4n6, C:225n3, C:226n3) and odd chain fatty acids (C15:0, C17:0), and antioxidants (α-tocopherol and β-carotene) incorporated nanoparticle (NP) oral supplement “CoViRCureTM” to prevent the COVID-19 post-hyper immunity period of immunosuppression. In Phase I, we will collect COVID-19 serum samples to determine the target compounds for CoViRCure. During infection, fatty acid metabolism changes due to fighting off inflammation, oxidation, or injury. Metabolic changes include the increased production of oxylipins (oxl) and ceramide (Crm) species, along with decreased levels of beneficial sphingolipids (SLs). We will measure the proposed dietary compounds along with oxl, CRm, and SLs in COVID-19 serum. Collectively, these lipid markers will enable us to select the active target compounds, which modulate the S1PR pathway to restore normal homeostasis in the body after injury or infection. NGL will focus on selecting the most promising markers for metabolic changes in the proposed dietary compounds found in COVID-19 patient’s serum. Furthermore, NGL will determine the target compounds for the fabrication of CoViRCure to prevent COVID-19 hyper immunity and immunosuppression in the military and civilian populations.