Restriction of SARS-CoV-2 replication by targeting programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting

By using a reporter gene-based in vitro assay for detecting the efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 protein translation with a programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting, a compound  merafloxacin was identified as a specific inhibitor of this frameshifting. This effect was also confirmed for other betacoronaviruses such as SARS-CoV, hCOV-OC43, hCOV-229E and infectious bronchitis virus, but not other positive-strand RNA viruses such as HIV, West Nile virus and equine arteritis virus. It was demonstrated that the merafloxacin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected VeroE6 cells.