Compound Found in Sharks Has Anti-Viral Potential | Viruses101 | Learn Science at Scitable

 Sharks and antiviral medications may seem like they have nothing in common. Au contraire mon ami, you may be surprised to know that sharks are at the cutting edge of viral research. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that a compound in sharks has the potential to be used as a "broad spectrum" antiviral agent in humans.

Squalamine as a broad-spectrum systemic antiviral agent with therapeutic potential

Microbiologists find new approach to fighting viral illnesses

By discovering how certain viruses use their host cells to replicate, UC Irvine microbiologists have identified a new approach to the development of universal treatments for viral illnesses such as meningitis, encephalitis, hepatitis and possibly the common cold.

Turmeric blocks Rift Valley fever virus multiplication

Curcumin, found in turmeric, stopped the potentially deadly Rift Valley Fever virus from multiplying in infected cells, says Aarthi Narayanan, lead investigator on the new study and a research assistant professor with Mason's National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases.
Mosquito-borne Rift Valley Fever virus (RVF) is an acute, fever-causing virus that affects domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and goats, as well as humans. The research appears this month in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Fluoxetine (a.k.a. Prozac) is effective as an anti-viral, study suggests

Human enteroviruses are members of a genus containing more than 100 distinct RNA viruses responsible for various life threatening infections, such as poliomyelitis and encephalitis. While immunization has all but eliminated the poliovirus, the archetype for the genus, no antiviral drugs currently exist for the treatment of enterovirus infections, which are often severe and potentially fatal. In view of its favorable pharmacokinetics and safety profile of fluoxetine -- which is in a class of compounds typically used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders and some personality disorders -- the research team found that it warrants additional study as a potential antiviral agent for enterovirus infections.

Potent new compound virtually eliminates HIV in cell culture

A new study by scientists on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute shows, in cell culture, a natural compound ( Cortistatin A) can virtually eliminate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in infected cells. The compound defines a novel class of HIV anti-viral drugs endowed with the capacity to repress viral replication in acutely and chronically infected cells.