Blocking Neuropilin-1 in Drosophila melanogaster as a Possible Treatment for Pain and SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

This study aims to validate a method of neuropilin-1 blocking in Drosophila melanogaster to aid the development of chronic pain treatment as well as increase scientific understanding of SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. If Drosophila melanogaster are exposed to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) used for targeted chemotherapy against neuropilin-1, then this targeted protein blocking method may allow for the development of new pain treatment and possible SARS-CoV-2 treatment. mAbs were microinjected into mutant flies to block NRP-1 activity. Then, a thermal nociception and von frey assay were done to test drosophila nociception. Finally, an IHC assay was performed to quantify protein activity. Overall, the hypothesis was supported as both nociception assays showed significant data proving mutant flies had delayed or no reactions to stimuli. The Von Frey assay did show some varying results, but the data is still significant. However, the IHC did show that there was still some NRP-1 activity in the mutant flies. NRP-1 was able to be partially blocked by mAbs. The collected data may apply to the expansion of research in pain treatment as well as COVID-19 research. Chronic pain is a prevalent area of research that is still not completely solved today. The fight against the SARS-CoV-2 is an ongoing fight and further research is mandatory in finding treatments for this deadly virus.