In January 2020, a potential breakthrough in flu treatment emerged, only to be overshadowed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A therapy, H84T-BanLec, developed by a team including David Markovitz, M.D., from the University of Michigan Medical School, shows promise against all human-infecting coronaviruses, including MERS, SARS, and SARS-CoV-2. The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, highlights its effectiveness against variants like Omicron.
The research team, including Peter Hinterdorfer, Ph.D., from Johannes Kepler University, and Kwok-Yung Yuen, MBBS, M.D., from the University of Hong Kong, adapted their focus as the pandemic unfolded. "We discovered it was effective against every type of coronavirus, in both lab tests and animal models," Markovitz stated. The therapy utilizes lectins, proteins that bind to carbohydrates, specifically targeting high-mannose glycans on viral surfaces.
Despite concerns about lectins triggering immune responses, H84T-BanLec has been modified to avoid harmful side effects, showing no adverse effects in animal models. Current COVID-19 treatments face limitations, but H84T-BanLec's ability to bind to a wide range of viruses offers a potential edge in combating future pandemics.
The research team aims to test H84T-BanLec in humans, envisioning it as a preventative nasal spray or drops. Its applications might extend beyond viruses, potentially targeting certain cancers due to similar surface structures. The goal is to bring this therapy from lab to clinical trials, offering new strategies for treating respiratory infections and beyond.
Source: The Brighter Side