Automated, Microscopic Measurement of Fibrinaloid Microclots and Their Degradation by Nattokinase, the Main Natto Protease

Nattokinase, from the Japanese fermented food natto, is a protease with fibrinolytic activity that can thus degrade conventional blood clots. In some cases, however, including in Long COVID, fibrinogen can polymerise into an anomalous amyloid form to create clots that are resistant to normal fibrinolysis and that we refer to as fibrinaloid microclots. These can be detected with the fluorogenic stain thioflavin T. We describe an automated microscopic technique for the quantification of fibrinaloid microclot formation, which also allows the kinetics of their formation and aggregation to be recorded. We also here show that recombinant nattokinase is effective at degrading the fibrinaloid microclots in vitro. Flow conditions, mimicked by shaking, increase the size of the clots via aggregation. Overall, this work adds to the otherwise largely anecdotal evidence, that we review, that nattokinase might be anticipated to have value as part of therapeutic treatments for individuals with Long COVID and related disorders that involve fibrinaloid microclots.