AUTHOR=Khodavirdipour Amir , Chamanrokh Parastoo , Alikhani Mohammad Yousef , Alikhani Mohammad Sina 

TITLE=Potential of Bacillus subtilis Against SARS-CoV-2 – A Sustainable Drug Development Perspective

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.718786

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.718786

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The COVID-19 pandemic had anomalous yet inevitable impacts on the world’s economies, healthcare systems, and all other aspects of life. Researchers began to uncover hidden routes to find a new horizon of hope using underrated resources. Biosurfactants are sustainable biomolecules with an active surface, unique characteristics, and extensive uses. <italic>Bacillus</italic> species showed the highest amount of biosurfactant activities and <italic>Bacillus subtilis</italic> is one of them. The antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity of <italic>B. subtilis</italic> was proven recently. The great advantage is its non-toxic nature. Pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1 β, 6, 8, 12, 18, and TNF-(α are secreted in higher amounts when neutrophils and monocytes are triggered by biosurfactant bacteria. This point of view furnishes the potential application of B. subtilis and its biomolecules against COVID-19, either in the form of a vaccine/therapeutic agent, for a greener environment, healthier life, and environmental sustainability. Further <italic>in vivo</italic> and clinical trials are needed to validate this hypothesis.</p>