Medicine for Viral Diseases

Back in the 1970s, it was discovered that 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone (CMA) could be used to counteract viruses. Scientists tested CMA in mice and found that it exhibited an extremely strong antiviral effect. Even though CMA worked so well in mice, there didn't seem to be an effect in humans. Because of this, CMA was forgotten for years until Prof. Dr. Veit Hornung from the Bonn University Hospital stumbled on to an old publication about this small molecule. Now, scientists at the Bonn University Hospital are looking more into CMA to uncover the reason why it had no effect on humans and through that discover a medicine for viral diseases.

Through his research, Prof. Dr. Veit Hornung has concluded that the reason why CMA worked in mice but not in humans is because of the specific target structures that CMA latches on to. Hornung and his team of scientists have found the specific proteins that CMA attaches to and also discovered that the human counterpart of this protein doesn't respond to CMA. The humans' version of this protein is slightly different than the mice's. This causes CMA to have no effect on humans. Hornung and this team are now doing their best to find a way for CMA to have an effect on humans, but they still say it'll likely be many years until an effective drug to fight viruses becomes available.

Link to article: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-blank-potently-substance.html

 NOS Themes:

• Role of motivation and curiosity: If CMA could have an effect on humans, many lives could be saved.
• Science is based on evidence: A lot of evidence was collected to conclude that CMA could be used as an antiviral agent.

Prof. Dr. Veit Hornung from the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology of the Bonn University Hospital

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-blank-potently-substance.html#jCp

Prof. Dr. Veit Hornung from the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology of the Bonn University Hospital

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-blank-potently-substance.html#jCp

Prof. Dr. Veit Hornung from the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology of the Bonn University Hospital

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-blank-potently-substance.html#jCp

Prof. Dr. Veit Hornung from the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology of the Bonn University Hospital

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-blank-potently-substance.html#jCp

Prof. Dr. Veit Hornung from the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology of the Bonn University Hospital

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-blank-potently-substance.html#jCp