This is about dermcidin, a peptide found naturally in sweat, saliva and tears, among other fluids, which researchers know protects us against various infectious agents. It has previously been shown to protect against certain bacteria. New research suggests the peptide may also play an important role in how we cope with the influenza virus.
A research team from Spain has analyzed samples from 19 healthcare workers who said they had never had the flu. The analyses showed that they had high concentrations of dermcidin, which could explain why they were not infected.
In lab studies, the researchers found that dermcidin could prevent two common influenza viruses from attaching to human cells. The peptide also protected mice from influenza. The study was published in the scientific journal PNAS.
“The results show that our own bodies have natural mechanisms to prevent viral infections, which opens up opportunities to develop new, more effective antiviral treatments,” says Álex Mira, a researcher at the Fisabio Foundation and one of the study's authors, in a press release.
Influenza is caused by different types of viruses, which are classified into three groups: types A, B and C. The most common is influenza A virus. These are divided into subtypes depending on the composition of the proteins on the virus surface.
The proteins are hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. They come in several different variants.
Hemagglutinin is a glycoprotein on the surface of an influenza virus that binds to and infects the host cell.
Sources: Nature, National Encyclopedia
