An Amphibian Host Defense Peptide Is Virucidal for Human H1 Hemagglutinin-Bearing Influenza Viruses

Abstract

Although vaccines confer protection against influenza A viruses, antiviral treatment becomes the first line of defense during pandemics because there is insufficient time to produce vaccines. Current antiviral drugs are susceptible to drug resistance, and developing new antivirals is essential. We studied host defense peptides from the skin of the South Indian frog and demonstrated that one of these, which we named "urumin," is virucidal for H1 hemagglutinin-bearing human influenza A viruses. This peptide specifically targeted the conserved stalk region of H1 hemagglutinin and was effective against drug-resistant H1 influenza viruses. Using electron microscopy, we showed that this peptide physically destroyed influenza virions. It also protected naive mice from lethal influenza infection. Urumin represents a unique class of anti-influenza virucide that specifically targets the hemagglutinin stalk region, similar to targeting of antibodies induced by universal influenza vaccines. Urumin therefore has the potential to contribute to first-line anti-viral treatments during influenza outbreaks.

Antiviral peptides as promising therapeutic drugs

“…In the in vivo assays, BALB/C mice were treated with urumin, administered intranasally, and then inoculated with influenza. The results showed that urumin-treated mice had less morbidity than the non-treated [95].…”

Bioactive peptides derived from bovine and porcine co-products: A review

“…Peptide‐based medicines include Lupron, which achieved global sales of more than US$2.3 billion in 2011, antimicrobial peptides, and GLP‐1 agonists which represent an established drug class with several products currently available in the market including Byetta, Bydureon, Victoza, Lyxumia, and Tanzeum which are used in the treatment of Type‐2 diabetes and obesity (Fosgerau & Hoffmann, ). In addition, researchers from Emory Vaccine Centre and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in India have recently reported that a peptide found in the skin mucus secreted by South Indian frogs is virucidal for H1 hemagglutinin‐bearing human influenza A viruses (Holthausen et al, ). This peptide, named Urumin is a unique class and shows potential to contribute to first‐line antiviral treatments during influenza outbreaks.…”

“…Bioactive peptides are currently used by pharmaceutical companies for health promotion. It has been estimated that the global peptide drug market will increase from US$14.1 billion in 2011 to US$25.4 billion in 2018 (Fosgerau & Hoffmann, 2015 (Holthausen et al, 2017). This peptide, named Urumin is a unique class and shows potential to contribute to first-line antiviral treatments during influenza outbreaks.…”

Stalking new vaccines: Methods that target the stems of viral proteins could put universal vaccines within reach

“…Over the next several months, Jacob isolated 32 different peptides from the H. bahuvistara slime, all of which were new to science, including one that seemed able to thwart the H1N1 flu virus in both cells in a dish and mice. Jacob's team named this compound urumin, after the long, curved sword historically carried by soldiers in the same region of southern India where the frog lived 1 .…”