Share:
Researchers mucus from frogs can efficiently kill flu viruses
In order not to catch the flu, it is usually recommended to keep away from infected people and strengthen their own immune system. Now there is evidence that also substances from the animal kingdom can help against infections with influenza viruses. According to researchers, an active substance against influenza viruses is in the mucus of a certain frog species.
Frog mucus against influenza
Runny nose, fever, hoarseness: Anyone who suffers from flu, must take care and resort to traditional home remedies. It would be better to protect yourself from infection in the first place. There is a vaccine available. Whether such a vaccination makes sense, however, is controversial in the population. In the future, a substance from the animal kingdom could possibly help here as well. Because according to researchers, in the mucus of a certain frog species, an active ingredient against influenza viruses.
Researchers from the US and India have found that a substance in the mucus of a certain frog species can kill influenza viruses. (Image: jonnyslav / fotolia.com) Helpful substances from the animal kingdom
In recent years, scientists have repeatedly reported surprising findings that show how important substances from the animal kingdom could become for humans. Researchers from Austria discovered that so-called tick cement could kill human tissue.
Snails also produce a natural adhesive that could be used in medicine, wound healing and cosmetics.
Also impressive was a message from Australian scientists who found out that Tasmanian Devil's Milk works against multidrug-resistant super-germs.
Researchers at the Emory Vaccine Center in Atlanta (USA) and the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology in India are now reporting a discovery that could have an even greater impact on medicine.
The scientists found evidence that antibodies of a certain frog species could help fight influenza viruses.
Substance does not work against currently circulating influenza viruses
As the experts in the journal "Cell Press" reported, they found in the study of the slime on the skin of the south-indigenous frog Hydrophylax bahuvistara that this influenza virus of the strain can kill H1. These are also widespread in humans.
The researchers called this antiviral peptide, which is responsible for the effect, "urumin". This name comes from the particularly flexible sword Urumi used in Indian martial arts.
According to the experts, urinary - administered via the nose - was able to protect unvaccinated mice from a lethal dose of various influenza viruses. It was reported that the antibody was active against strains of H1-type influenza viruses, but not against others currently circulating, such as H3N2.
Not a drug for a long time
Although the peptide is far from being used as an antiviral drug. However, Joshy Jacob of Emory University confessed in a press release, "I almost fell off the chair."
"At first, I thought you'd have to fight drug discovery through thousands of drug candidates, sometimes even a million, before you get one or two hits," the researcher said.
But after only 32 peptides had been tested, the scientists had four hits. While three of them also attacked human cells, urine was only effective against the flu virus.
Her results are the first indication of his potential in the fight against influenza viruses. (Ad)