A groundbreaking study from Sweden reveals that a peptide derived from a lactic acid bacterium can effectively destroy viruses, including the coronavirus. This discovery has already secured a Swedish patent, with an international patent application in progress.
“We hope this discovery will quickly translate into antiviral treatments and complement existing vaccines,” states Hazem Khalaf, docent and microbiology researcher at Örebro University.
The research, led by Khalaf and Torbjörn Bengtsson, a post-retirement professor of biomedicine at Örebro, has been published by the National Library of Medicine. It builds on previous studies exploring peptides as alternatives for treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Addressing the Global Health Threat
New virus variants that lead to epidemics and pandemics pose a significant threat to global health. Developing new vaccines is typically a lengthy process – the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine being an exception. This situation highlights the urgent need for effective antiviral drugs.
The Peptide: Plantaricin PLNC8 αβ
The peptide used in this study is plantaricin (PLNC8 αβ). This research builds on the concept from a previous bacterial study published in Nature Scientific Reports, focusing on the peptide’s ability to bind to lipids in the virus membrane through electrostatic interaction.
“This lipid membrane is stable and does not mutate. However, if it is destroyed, the virus cannot attach to human cells to reproduce and cause disease,” explains Bengtsson.
The plantaricin PLNC8 αβ demonstrated effectiveness against a broad spectrum of membrane-enveloped viruses, including coronavirus, influenza virus, and flavivirus.
Tackling Virus Mutation
Viruses mutate rapidly, a fact underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. Current antiviral drugs target specific proteins in viruses, which can mutate and render the treatment ineffective.
In collaboration with the Innovation Office at Örebro University, the researchers have secured a Swedish patent for their findings, with an international patent application underway. The next step involves partnering with the pharmaceutical industry to develop treatments.
“We might develop a nasal spray for early-stage infection, preventing the virus from spreading to the lungs and reducing transmission,” says Khalaf.
To ensure timely treatment, it’s crucial that the infected person can identify whether they have a membrane-enveloped virus. Bengtsson mentions the availability of at-home tests to quickly determine this, distinguishing such viruses from common cold viruses.
“In the future, we may all have this peptide ready in our bathroom cabinets to combat viral infections immediately,” Bengtsson envisions.
He adds that treating a viral infection could also prevent and treat subsequent bacterial infections.
Understanding Virus Types
Viruses are classified into two types: naked viruses, which have a protein shell encasing their genome, and enveloped viruses, where the protein shell is surrounded by a lipid membrane. This study’s peptide targets and destroys the lipid membrane of enveloped viruses.
Influenza virus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and coronaviruses, like those from the COVID-19 pandemic, are examples of enveloped viruses with lipid membranes. Flavivirus, transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes and causing diseases like tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), is another example.
This innovative research holds promise for new antiviral treatments, potentially transforming how we manage viral infections in the future.
