tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
A PROTEIN which occurs naturally in the human body as part of the immune system could lead to new treatments for flu, scientists have found.
Antimicrobial host defence peptides are key parts of the body's response and increase in number during infection and inflammation.
Now Scottish-based researchers have shown that some of these peptides "possess potent antiviral activity" against the flu virus.
The "fascinating" find means they will look at ways to modify the protein with the aim of developing new treatments.
Dr Peter Barlow, of Edinburgh Napier University, and Dr Donald Davidson, of Edinburgh University, conducted the research in partnership with the American Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr Barlow, the principal investigator in toxicology at the Edinburgh Napier University's Centre for Nano Safety, said: "This is a fascinating discovery.
"Our study demonstrates that antimicrobial peptides possess potent antiviral activity against the influenza virus.
..
http://www.independent.ie/health/he...ly-in-body-could-hold-the-answer-2915716.html
Antimicrobial host defence peptides are key parts of the body's response and increase in number during infection and inflammation.
Now Scottish-based researchers have shown that some of these peptides "possess potent antiviral activity" against the flu virus.
The "fascinating" find means they will look at ways to modify the protein with the aim of developing new treatments.
Dr Peter Barlow, of Edinburgh Napier University, and Dr Donald Davidson, of Edinburgh University, conducted the research in partnership with the American Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr Barlow, the principal investigator in toxicology at the Edinburgh Napier University's Centre for Nano Safety, said: "This is a fascinating discovery.
"Our study demonstrates that antimicrobial peptides possess potent antiviral activity against the influenza virus.
..
http://www.independent.ie/health/he...ly-in-body-could-hold-the-answer-2915716.html