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May 4, 2017

This Frog Oozes Mucus That Causes Flu Virus Particles to Explode

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

  • Researchers have discovered that a compound in the mucus found on the back of a frog can cause flu virus particles to explode.
  • If they can harness this compound, called urumin, they may be able to create a universal flu vaccine.

A compound in the mucus found on the oozy backs of a South Indian frog — known locally as a germ killer — can cause flu virus particles to explode. Researchers at Emory University have discovered that the compound, a peptide they’ve called urumin, is potent, yet precise, and capable of destroying an entire class of flu viruses while other cells and even other viruses emerge unscathed. Unlike other frog-based compounds, urumin is uniquely nontoxic, another unusual feature that makes it more promising from a therapeutic standpoint.

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