Urumin is a naturally occurring 27-amino acid virucidal host defense peptide against the human influenza A virus.[1] It was discovered and isolated from the skin of Hydrophylax bahuvistara, a species of frog found in South India, by a team of Emory University researchers.[1] The team that discovered urumin tested the peptide against 8 different H1N1 and 4 different H3N2 viruses, as well as various other influenza viruses.[1] The peptide specifically targets the evolutionarily conserved H1 hemagglutinin stalk region of H1-containing influenza A viruses.[1] Additionally, urumin was active against drug-resistant influenza A viruses, that were resistant against oseltamivir, zanamivir and peramivir .[1] While its mechanism of action is not fully understood, urumin seems to inhibit viral growth by physically destroying influenza A virions, and is able to protect naive mice from doses of influenza A infection as high as 2 times the LD50.[1] Because of its specific targeting of the hemagglutinin stalk region of the influenza A virus, the mechanism of action of urumin is similar to that of antibodies induced in the body by universal influenza vaccines.[1] Urumin was also tested for toxicity against erythrocytes and showed a TD50 of 2,450 μM and TI of 664.7, indicating a favorable toxicity profile against erythrocytes.[1] As such, urumin may represent the basis for a potential first-line antiviral treatment against influenza A, particularly in the context of influenza outbreaks,[1] although the discoverers of the peptide have stated that urumin is far from becoming an anti-flu drug.[2] Urumin was named after Urumi, a sword used in Kalaripayattu, the martial art of Kerala, where it was discovered.[3]
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| Other names
IPLRGAFINGRWDSQCHRFSNGAIACA; H-Ile-Pro-Leu-Arg-Gly-Ala-Phe-Ile-Asn-Gly-Arg-Trp-Asp-Ser-Gln-Cys-His-Arg-Phe-Ser-Asn-Gly-Ala-Ile-Ala-Cys-Ala-OH
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3D model (JSmol)
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PubChem CID
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| Properties | |
| C129H198N42O35S2 | |
| Molar mass | 2961.38 g·mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Holthausen DJ, Lee SH, Kumar VT, Bouvier NM, Krammer F, Ellebedy AH, Wrammert J, Lowen AC, George S, Pillai MR, Jacob J (2017). "An Amphibian Host Defense Peptide Is Virucidal for Human H1 Hemagglutinin-Bearing Influenza Viruses". Immunity. 46 (4): 587–595. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2017.03.018. PMID 28423338.
- ^ SciNews (2017). "Frog Skin Peptide 'Urumin' Kills H1 Influenza Viruses".
- ^ Healy, Melissa (18 April 2017). "Why the next flu medicine could come from frog mucus". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
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