Thread by @abledoc

@nntaleb There are sufficient mechanistic studies to believe there could be a synergy between Zinc and Hydroxychloroquine.
Zinc has activity against multiple virus families including coronavirus.
Hydroxychloroquine is a Zinc chelator and potentiates Zinc effects. Will post references 1/n

@nntaleb Zn2+ Inhibits Coronavirus and Arterivirus RdRP RNA dependent RNA Polymerase Activity In Vitro and Zinc Ionophores Block the Replication of These Viruses in Cell Culture 2/n
journals.plos.org/plospathogens/…

@nntaleb Zinc ionophores inhibit other RNA viruses such as Dengue Virus as well. So this is a generic thing about RNA viruses. RdRp enzymes are structurally conserved across viral taxa.
frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

@nntaleb Zinc ionophores inhibit picornaviruses. That is beyond just enveloped RNA viruses.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18922875

@nntaleb Zinc inhibits the chloroquine induced autophagy arrest.
Autophagy would promote antigen presentation. Chloroquine inhibits antigen presentation. So Zinc may rescue Chloroquine induced inhibition of immune response. Thats a bonus
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26453000

@nntaleb This paper looks at Chloroquine activity as a Zinc Ionophore.
Ionophores allow ions to pass through cell membranes. Normally charged ions are blocked by cell membrane lipid bilayers unless there are ion channels. Ionophores can do the trick. 6/n
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…

@nntaleb Chloroquine Quercetin Clioquinol and other polyphenols chelate Zinc and act as Zinc ionophores helping them cross the cell membranes.
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf…