Bananas Could Be the Silver Bullet Against COVID-19, Flu, and MERS

A groundbreaking study suggests that a banana-derived therapy might offer a promising solution against all known human coronaviruses, including COVID-19, flu, and MERS. This innovative approach could also have future applications in cancer treatment.

The Discovery

On January 13, 2020, researchers introduced a potential therapy aimed at combating all known strains of the flu. Just a week later, the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S. marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, diverting attention from this novel research. Intriguingly, the team behind this flu therapy was also exploring treatments for coronaviruses.

David Markovitz, M.D., a professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, initially focused on MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) due to its high mortality rate of 35%. MERS had caused a brief but deadly outbreak in 2015, leading to 858 confirmed deaths. The research team was concerned about its potential threat.

Their recent study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, revealed that their therapy, H84T-BanLec, is effective against all human-infecting coronaviruses, including MERS, the original SARS, and SARS-CoV-2, including the Omicron variant.

How H84T-BanLec Works

H84T-BanLec is derived from a protein called a lectin, extracted from banana fruit. Lectins are proteins that bind to carbohydrates, specifically high-mannose glycans found on the surface of viruses but rarely on healthy human cells. By attaching to these glycans, H84T-BanLec prevents the virus from entering and infecting cells.

Using advanced techniques like atomic force microscopy, the researchers confirmed that H84T-BanLec forms multiple strong bonds with the spike protein of coronaviruses. This robust binding likely reduces the virus’s ability to develop resistance.

Potential and Challenges

While lectins have shown antiviral potential, they have often been avoided in therapeutic research due to possible immune responses. However, H84T-BanLec has been modified to mitigate these risks and showed no harmful side effects in animal models.

Existing COVID-19 treatments, such as remdesivir, Paxlovid, and monoclonal antibodies, have various limitations, including side effects and reduced effectiveness against new variants. H84T-BanLec stands out for its effectiveness across all tested virus variants and influenza strains.

The research team hopes to advance H84T-BanLec to human trials, potentially as a nasal spray or drops for preventing and treating respiratory infections. Beyond viruses, there is also hope that this therapy could be adapted to target certain cancers due to the presence of high-mannose glycans on cancer cells.

Conclusion

The ability of H84T-BanLec to bind to a wide range of coronaviruses and flu strains presents a promising strategy for future pandemics. As current treatments struggle with evolving viruses, H84T-BanLec’s method of targeting virus surface proteins may help maintain its efficacy.

With ongoing research, there is optimism that this therapy could soon revolutionize how we combat respiratory infections and even cancer, providing a new line of defense against seasonal and pandemic outbreaks.

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