New York: A substance originally found in bananas and carefully edited by scientists could lead to drugs that fight off a wide range of viruses, including those that cause AIDS, Hepatitis C and influenza, new research suggests.
The new research focused on a protein called banana lectin, or BanLec, that "reads" the sugars on the outside of both viruses and cells.
The 26 scientists on the team - from Germany, Ireland, Canada, Belgium and the US - worked together over several years to figure out exactly how BanLec worked against viruses, and then to build a better version.
"What we have done is exciting because there is potential for BanLec to develop into a broad spectrum antiviral agent, something that is not clinically available to physicians and patients right now," said co-senior author of the study David Markovitz, professor at University of Michigan Medical School in the US.
Five years ago, scientists showed that the banana protein could keep the virus that causes AIDS from getting into cells - but it also caused side effects that limited its potential use.
This new research has created a novel form of BanLec that still fights viruses in mice, but does not have a property that causes irritation and unwanted inflammation, the scientists said.
They succeeded in peeling apart these two functions by carefully studying the molecule in many ways, and pinpointing the tiny part that triggered side effects.
Then, they engineered a new version of BanLec, called H84T, by slightly changing the gene that acts as the instruction manual for building it.
This resulted in a form of BanLec that worked against the viruses that cause AIDS, hepatitis C and influenza in tests in tissue and blood samples - without causing inflammation, the study said.
The researchers also showed that H84T BanLec protected mice from getting infected by flu virus.
The study was published in the journal Cell.
The new research focused on a protein called banana lectin, or BanLec, that "reads" the sugars on the outside of both viruses and cells.
The 26 scientists on the team - from Germany, Ireland, Canada, Belgium and the US - worked together over several years to figure out exactly how BanLec worked against viruses, and then to build a better version.
Five years ago, scientists showed that the banana protein could keep the virus that causes AIDS from getting into cells - but it also caused side effects that limited its potential use.
Advertisement
They succeeded in peeling apart these two functions by carefully studying the molecule in many ways, and pinpointing the tiny part that triggered side effects.
Advertisement
This resulted in a form of BanLec that worked against the viruses that cause AIDS, hepatitis C and influenza in tests in tissue and blood samples - without causing inflammation, the study said.
Advertisement
The study was published in the journal Cell.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
World Hepatitis Day 2022: Hepatitis During Pregnancy, What Are The Ways To Prevent & Treat The Disease? Cadila Seeks Nod To Repurpose Hepatitis C Drug For Covid Treatment Nobel Prize 2020: Know Why Winners Are Called Nobel Laureates, 10 Facts Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms BJP Subtly Asking Ajit Pawar To Quit "Mahayuti": Sharad Pawar's NCP Biden Says Could Drop Election Bid If "Medical Condition" Emerged Russia Says It's Ready To Work With Any US Leader 3 People Die After Drowning In Lake In Telangana: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.