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

Publication date: 18 April 2017
Source:Immunity, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): David J. Holthausen, Song Hee Lee, Vineeth TV Kumar, Nicole M. Bouvier, Florian Krammer, Ali H. Ellebedy, Jens Wrammert, Anice C. Lowen, Sanil George, Madhavan Radhakrishna Pillai, Joshy Jacob
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.

Teaser

Antiviral treatment is the first line of defense during influenza A pandemics. Holthausen et al. identify a host defense peptide (urumin) from frogs that is virucidal for H1 hemagglutinin (HA)-bearing human influenza A viruses. Urumin targets the conserved stalk region of hemagglutinin and protects naive mice from lethal influenza infection.


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