Searching for potential virus inhibitors
‘That multidisciplinary collaboration is very useful,’ says Porzberg. ‘Together with chemists in Germany, at Heidelberg University, we are seeking to identify substances that can prevent sugar shields from forming on the viral proteins that enable a virus to spread. Such a sugar shield ensures that our immune system does not recognise the viral protein, preventing it from taking action against the virus.’
When the researchers in Nijmegen and Heidelberg find substances with strong potential, they send them to specialised labs where the antibodies can be tested against the virus. ‘Because we are dealing with viruses for which no medicine yet exists, this must be done in laboratories with the highest safety level, in so-called BSL-4 labs. There, they test which substances are effective and which are not.’
One inhibitor for multiple viruses?
So far, the researchers have mainly focused on substances that might work against the Lassa virus, but that does not mean they are ignoring the other viruses. ‘The conventional method is to find a virus inhibitor for each virus, but in this project we actually hope to find substances that work against multiple viruses.’
Although the scientists have only been working on this five‑year study for one year, Porzberg is cautiously optimistic about the initial results. ‘We have already identified potent substances against Lassa.’ She is quick to emphasise that the road to a usable medicine is still a long one. ‘First, the experiments take place in the BSL-4 labs.
Depending on those results, we may need to go back to work to increase the antiviral potency of certain compounds. The next step is animal studies, and even after successful animal studies, we are still not there. In most cases, the properties of the drug will need to be further tweaked. We may well reach the first animal studies within the scope of this project.’
Viruses threaten everyone
The researchers have limited influence over the steps that follow. Funding must be secured to conduct clinical trials in the coming years, and that is only possible if investors or pharmaceutical companies recognise the need for a drug. ‘With a drug for dengue, that might happen more quickly because so many people travel to areas where they can become infected with dengue.’ Other diseases may seem a long way off at the moment, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pay them any mind, says Porzberg. ‘Viruses such as Lassa or the deadly Nipah virus, an outbreak of which was reported in India earlier this year, are already causing a great deal of suffering. And if COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that such viruses can threaten everyone sooner or later. We would do well to be more aware of this.’
Photo: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases via Unsplash
