Ebselen Reacts with SARS Coronavirus-2 Main Protease Crystals

The SARS coronavirus 2 main protease 3CLpro tailor cuts various essential virus proteins out of long poly-protein translated from the virus RNA. If the 3CLpro is inhibited, the functional virus proteins cannot form and the virus cannot replicate and assemble. Any compound that inhibits the 3CLpro is therefore a potential drug to end the pandemic. Here we show that the diffraction power of 3CLpro crystals is effectively destroyed by Ebselen. It appears that Ebselen may be a widely available, relatively cost effective way to eliminate the SARS coronavirus 2.