Posted on 06/11/2021 11:34:58 AM PDT by Red Badger
UMass Medical School scientists Katherine A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.; Fiachra Humphries, Ph.D.; and Liraz Galia, Ph.D., working with the British-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, have identified a novel molecule capable of stimulating the innate immune system against SARS-CoV-2 virus. A trigger for the STING (stimulator of interferon genes) pathway, the compound, diamidobenzimidazole (diABZI-4), protected animal models and human cells in the lab from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Published in Science Immunology, these results show that diABZI-4 has the potential to be an effective antiviral prophylaxis against COVID-19.
"Identifying antiviral therapies for SARS-CoV-2 is still desperately needed while vaccines continue to rollout worldwide," said Dr. Fitzgerald, the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair, professor of medicine, vice chair of research in the Department of Medicine and director of the Program in Innate Immunity. "An approach like this, using a STING agonist, could be deployed to protect those at highest risk in this pandemic but also in future pandemics before we have drugs that target the virus itself." Fitzgerald and Dr. Galia, a postdoctoral associate in the Fitzgerald lab, are authors on the paper.
Dr. Humphries, instructor in medicine and first author of the study, added, "Not everybody can receive a vaccine. For those who are immuno-compromised or have allergies, this treatment, which could be delivered through an inhaler, can be a viable alternative for boosting the immune response."
Vaccines work by stimulating the adaptive immune system, which creates antibodies against diseases and viruses. By taking a small piece of a virus that doesn't cause infection, in the case of SARS-CoV-2 a part of the spike protein that latches onto and infects epithelial cells, scientists can teach the adaptive immune system to recognize specific viral invaders. Once the adaptive immune system has been trained, it can more quickly respond to subsequent encounters by producing the antibodies that fight off the virus. This prevents serious illness, such as COVID-19, and in some cases entirely blocks infection.
The innate immune system, however, is more of a generalist, explained Humphries. The innate immune system identifies any pathogen that it may encounter—whether it be bacterial, viral or fungal. One of its chief functions is to produce cytokines that serve as a first line of defense, antiviral responder. It also alerts the immune system to the presence of the invader and triggers the adaptive immune system to wake up.
The intracellular protein STING is like an early alarm system for the immune system. Once it has been activated, it triggers production of the cytokine interferon. This activity stimulates the adaptive immune system to fight off the infection. A STING agonist, such as diABZI-4, could potentially serve a wake-up call to the immune system, giving it a boost to fight off pathogens before they get established.
Humphries and colleagues believed that the immune stimulating properties of diABZI-4 could also serve as an antiviral drug. It is already being tested as an immunotherapy for cancer.
By administering diABZI-4 intranasally, directly to the site of infection in mice, Humphries showed that it could activate the immune system and eliminate viral infection, such as SARS-CoV-2.
"It was kind of amazing," said Humphries. "A single dose was able to protect 100 percent of the mice from severe disease. After taking diABZI-4, the mice were completely protected from infection."
Subsequent cell studies showed that diABZI-4 was able to stimulate the innate immune response by activating the STING pathway that produces interferon I.
In part, what makes SARS-CoV-2 so effective is its ability to circumvent the antiviral response of the innate immune system, said Fitzgerald. "But what we show is we can use a STING agonist to illicit antiviral immunity and be effective."
Use of diABZI-4, which is stable at room temperature and can be produced relatively easily, may be an important adjuvant for current vaccine treatments for COVID-19. "You could see this being important for breakthrough infections and emerging variants," said Humphries. "You could potentially take this through an inhaler shortly after a potential exposure or even prophylactically before entering a high-risk environment such as an airplane and you'd have a short-lived antiviral boost to your immune system that would clear any virus before infection is established."
Fitzgerald and Humphries also showed that this antiviral response extended beyond SARS-CoV-2. It protected against influenza and herpes simplex virus as well. "Ultimately, this could have very broad antiviral applications," said Humphries.
Explore further
Researchers discover drug that blocks multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants in mice More information: Fiachra Humphries et al, A diamidobenzimidazole STING agonist protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection, Science Immunology (2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abi9002 Journal information: Science Immunology Provided by University of Massachusetts Medical School
Just make sure that it’s expensive and has lots of side effects. Then it’ll be a shoo-in.
Ivermectin, HCQ
and ignore any therapies that do not generate a ton of money
Ivermectin?
Hydroxychlorquine?
Zinc?
D?
C?
Azyrhromycin?
Budesonide?
Melatonin?
Aspirin?
Elderberry?
Leseee, what elae we got that already works?
Prednisone.
Honey, Lemon juice and garlic.........................
and blackberry brandy...
And Granny Clampette’s Rheumatism Medicine..............
There you go!
granny’s rheumatism medicine appeared to cure everything...
too bad there isn’t a recipe for it...
Recipe:
Corn
Water
i’m not so sure that’s all it contains after watching the show...
she had more ingredients than corn and water on that kitchen table when she was mixing it...
Think I’ll have some Mellow Corn. That’s only 90% corn.
Fruit flavorings are optional.
But all you need is ground corn and a little yeast mix with water till very damp, Let sit while the yeast does it’s thing, then cook off the alcohol with a still.............
I’ve never had moonshine but assume it would be something like Everclear?
thanks for the information...
but it’s easier to just go buy a bottle of blackberry brandy...
Yes because actual therapeutics that are targeted are progress. Oh no. Baaaddddd. Progress. Scary things that get it right. Why not just keep pimping things that are maybe weakly effective as a cure so we can watch more and more people suffer and die in the name of stopping all advancements.
The Wright brothers airplane was good. Why develop a 737
The model T was awesome. Who needs a corvette
You know those typewriters or old were pretty good. Why bother with a pentium chip
Yes indeed. Life was soooo much better without technological development and advancement. Can’t wait for that swamp cooler instead of central air.
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