A group of international scientists studying COVID-19 has made a significant breakthrough in uncovering a hidden component of the human immune system that generates anti-viral agents. This discovery, published in the Journal of Proteome Research, not only paves the way for the development of new tests to detect active viral infections but also opens up possibilities for the creation of anti-viral drugs that can combat not only COVID-19 but other viral infections as well.
Led by Professor Julien Wist and Professor Jeremy Nicholson at the Australian National Phenome Center (ANPC) at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, the research team from New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany analyzed blood and urine samples from COVID-19 patients. During their analysis, they stumbled upon a previously unknown part of the natural immune system that produces drug-like metabolites with anti-viral properties.
Professor Nicholson, the Director of ANPC, shared that they identified 10 new compounds that the body produces in response to the SARS Cov-2 virus. This discovery, called the Extended VIPERIN Pathway (X-VIP), significantly expands the knowledge of the VIPERIN anti-viral pathway, which is part of the innate immune system and reacts to most viral infections.
VIPERIN, which stands for virus inhibitory protein, endoplasmic reticulum-associated, interferon-inducible, is a multifunctional, interferon-inducible protein that regulates virus replication. When the body is attacked by a virus, it triggers an interferon response, and VIPERIN is believed to suppress virus replication.
Professor Nicholson stated that it is highly unusual to discover new human biochemical pathways, particularly ones that have such significant medical implications. Professor Wist added that out of the 10 X-VIP compounds they identified, nine were previously unknown to the scientific community.
These compounds are only produced during an active viral infection, and they have short half-lives. This means that the detection of these compounds in a patient’s blood or urine indicates that the patient is likely infectious and in need of isolation, Professor Wist explained.
The X-VIP metabolites serve as previously unidentified biomarkers of infection and infectiousness and could be crucial in rapidly diagnosing acutely infected hospitalized patients.
What makes these compounds even more fascinating is that they have a chemical structure that mimics that of antiviral drugs and bears a striking resemblance to some compounds already being marketed as anti-viral agents by pharmaceutical companies.
This discovery of X-VIP opens up the potential for further research aimed at designing new anti-viral drugs. Professor Nicholson emphasized the significance that human biology contains the basic elements necessary for antiviral drug synthesis, and this has been protecting humans even before the advent of modern medicine.
Additionally, the researchers found that the X-VIP compounds were present in both urine and plasma samples. This suggests that a simple non-invasive urine test could be developed for rapid detection of active viral infections, which would be of immense medical importance.
In fact, the team has already demonstrated the feasibility of deploying a rapid urine test for diagnosing active viral infections. This development has the potential to revolutionize the field of diagnostics and contribute to more effective management of viral outbreaks.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking discovery of the X-VIP pathway unlocks new possibilities in the fight against COVID-19 and other viral infections. It not only improves our understanding of the immune system’s response to viral attacks but also holds the promise of developing better tests and drugs to combat infectious diseases. This research highlights the importance of continued scientific exploration in the quest for innovative solutions to global health challenges.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
