Corona study: Protein from bananas as an active ingredient against viruses

Created: 06/11/2022, 19:00

By: Judith Brown

In the fight against the corona virus, researchers were able to use a protein derived from bananas effectively.

It may also help against other viruses.

Scientists have been dealing with Sars-CoV-2 since the beginning of the corona pandemic.

Various corona measures have already been used in the fight against the virus.

In addition, the corona vaccination is still considered a tried and tested means of curbing the spread of the virus.

In a recent study, researchers may now have taken another step: They discovered that a modified protein originally from bananas could act as a kind of universal active ingredient against corona viruses - and not only for this.

Corona study: Protein from bananas as a possible active ingredient against viruses

In modified form, a protein originally from bananas can act as a possible universal active ingredient against viruses.

© mix1 Photos/IMAGO

The team of scientists from China and the USA, among others, published the results of their study in the specialist journal

.

Using animal models, they investigated the lectin H84T-BanLec.

This comes from bananas and was specifically modified by the researchers for the study through precise molecular adjustments.

This prevented the usual unfavorable stimulation of the immune system.

Normally, this would put the T-cells on a non-directional alert.

This in turn would result in an excessive response from the immune system and thus unwanted inflammation.

Lectins such as H84T-BanLec are proteins that can attach themselves to special structures that are found, for example, on influenza viruses.

They prefer to bind to carbohydrates.

However, they are not found on healthy body cells.

Corona viruses also carry complex sugars (aka carbohydrate compounds) on their surface, which are called high-mannose glycans.

This is also the case with the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen.

In the study, the change in the lectins brought their desired property to bear: they mainly attached themselves to the glycans on the surface of the virus.

By "gluing" them together, SARS-CoV-2 with its spike protein can no longer dock onto human cells and subsequently penetrate them.

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Study shows: Banana protein is not only effective against Corona

With the help of high-resolution atomic force microscopes, the scientists were able to identify the sites on the spike protein where H84T-BanLec docks.

The researchers also showed that these connections are not only very strong, but also very diverse.

This makes it more difficult for the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen to protect itself from the accumulation of lectins through changes and mutations.

The scientists see a positive result in this that gives hope: H84T-BanLec can therefore attach itself to all pathogens that form glycans rich in mannose.

In addition to seasonal and epidemic corona viruses, these also include influenza viruses, hepatitis C, HIV, Ebola and herpes viruses.

The research team sees this as "an excellent opportunity for use in future seasonal epidemics and global pandemics".

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