SHERBROOKE, QC, Feb. 22, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Dr. Martin Richter
(pharmacology), investigator with the Centre de recherche clinique
Étienne-Le Bel (CRCELB) at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de
Sherbrooke (CHUS) and professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health
Sciences of the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS), and his collaborators
have identified a new function of the enzyme matriptase, present in the
human respiratory system, that can activate a viral protein involved in
infections caused by the H1N1 influenza (or flu) virus. Using this
observation as a starting point, these researchers have discovered a
new antiviral that targets the host rather than viruses, which could
prevent viruses from acquiring drug resistance. Martin Richter's
research findings provide a response to a critical need for new
antivirals to treat the flu, which, even today, annually causes between
250,000 and 500,000 deaths across the world, especially among young
children and the elderly.
Martin Richter and his coworkers at CRCELB and the Institut de
pharmacologie de Sherbrooke (pharmacology institute), namely medical
chemist Éric Marsault and biochemist/pharmacologist Richard Leduc, have
developed molecules capable of blocking this enzyme's activity, which
impairs the virus's propagation. The research team has filed an
international patent application for a new class of influenza
antivirals targeting matriptase and recently published its research
findings in the renowned Journal of Virology.
Martin Richter's results demonstrate that biotechnology tools referred
to as interfering RNA can be used to suppress matriptase expression in
human bronchial epithelial cells. These cells cover the body's
respiratory tract and are the main target of the flu virus. The team of
researchers was therefore able to demonstrate that the enzyme's absence
significantly blocked replication of the H1N1 virus. Without this
enzyme present, these respiratory cells offer greater resistance to the
flu virus. The researchers took their work a step further by using
their novel inhibitor to suppress the enzyme's action. Indeed, they
demonstrated that the inhibitor was highly effective in blocking
replication of the H1N1 virus, which caused the 2009 pandemic.
The flu virus needs a key to enter a cell in order to spread within the
respiratory system. This key, found on the virus's surface, is a
protein referred to as hemagglutinin. In order for the key to work, it
must be keyed properly so that the virus can enter the cell and
replicate. The virus's genetic code doesn't provide the tools needed to
shape the key, so the virus must use the host to do so. The virus
therefore uses the host's enzymes to ensure its own replication. The
enzymes act like a master locksmith that can key the virus's
hemagglutinin and activate the entrance key. This lets the virus take
control of the cell and allows its free replication, allowing the
disease to propagate in the respiratory system.
As things stand, there are only two types of antivirals approved for
treating the influenza virus (flu virus), including Tamiflu and
Relenza, yet multiple strains of the flu virus are increasingly
resistant to antivirals. Nearly all H3N2 strains are resistant to one
of the two types of antivirals, so these medications are no longer
recommended for treating influenza. In addition, several strains of
H1N1 all of which were circulating during the 2007-2008 flu season,
were resistant to Tamiflu. Most strains derived from H1N1 virus
derived from the 2009 pandemic and still circulating today remain
susceptible but many cases of resistance have been detected.
As a result, Martin Richter's research opens the way to the development
of new antivirals based on patent-pending technology. The Société de
commercialisation et de valorisation de l'Université de Sherbrooke
(SOCPRA) holds the intellectual-property rights to the results of this
research, which is available for marketing partnerships.
Centre de recherche clinique Étienne-Le Bel, CHUS ::: www.crc.chus.qc.ca
Positioned at the cutting-edge of today's major health issues, the
Centre de Recherche Clinique Étienne-Le Bel (CRCELB) of the Centre
hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) stands out for its
integrated approach in which fundamental, clinical, epidemiological,
and evaluative research coalesce. More than 200 basic-science
researchers and clinicians pool their knowledge and expertise with the
shared objective of developing new knowledge to maintain health,
prevent disease, and improve patient care. More than 900 people take
part in advancing health sciences.
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS) ::: www.chus.qc.ca
The Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke has two constituent
institutions: the CHUS - Fleurimont Hospital and the CHUS - Hôtel-Dieu.
Its mission is fourfold: care, teaching, research, and assessment of
health-care technologies and modes of intervention. The fourth largest
hospital center in Quebec, the CHUS plays a triple role of local,
regional, and supraregional hospital. The CHUS stands out for its many
cutting-edge specialties such as gamma-knife radiosurgery, positron
emission tomography (PET), interventional angiography, and
neuro-oncology. The CHUS hospital community comprises nearly 10,000
individuals (employees, physicians, researchers, students, trainees,
and volunteers) with a single objective: serving life.
SOURCE CENTRE DE RECHERCHE CLINIQUE ETIENNE - LE BEL DU CHUS