Sharks could hold key to human health; squalamine may fight a range of human viruses

[Guest guest]

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2011/09/21/2011-09-21_sharks_could_h\

old_key_to_human_health_squalamine_may_fight_a_range_of_human_viru.html

Sharks could hold key to human health; squalamine may fight a range of human

viruses

Afp Relaxnews

Wednesday, September 21st 2011, 4:19 PM

Sharks may hold the key to human health.

They may be primitive creatures but their bodies produce a sophisticated

substance that shows promise in fighting a range of human viruses from hepatitis

to yellow fever, researchers said Monday.

The compound, called squalamine, was discovered in 1993. However, a study in

the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences is the first to explore

its potential use against human viruses.

Researchers tested squalamine -- manufactured from dogfish sharks' livers -- in

lab dishes and in animal subjects and found it could inhibit or control viral

infections, and in some cases appeared to cure animals of their ills.

The project began when lead investigator, Zasloff, professor of surgery

and pediatrics at town University Medical Center, sent samples of

squalamine to a series of labs around the United States for testing.

Squalamine has been synthesized in a lab since 1995 and is no longer extracted

directly from shark tissue.

Tissue cultures showed it could " inhibit the infection of human blood vessel

cells by the dengue virus and human liver cells infected with hepatitis B and

D, " said the study.

Research on animals showed the compound controlled yellow fever, Eastern equine

encephalitis virus, and murine cytomegalovirus, a type of herpes virus that

afflicts rodents.

" It is clearly a promising drug, and is unlike, in its mechanism of action and

chemical structure, any other substance currently being investigated to treat

viral infections, " said Zasloff.

" We have not yet optimized squalamine dosing in any of the animal models we have

studied and as yet we do not know the maximum protective or therapeutic benefit

that can be achieved in these systems, " he added.

" But we are sufficiently convinced of the promise of squalamine as an antiviral

agent that we intend to take this compound into humans. "

Squalamine is safe for humans and has been considered a potential tool against

cancer and eye diseases, and some clinical trials for those targets are ongoing.

" In several of the early trials squalamine has shown significant and promising

activity... in both certain forms of cancer and in diabetic retinopathy, "

Zasloff told AFP in an email.

Zasloff discovered squalamine in 1993 and is also known for his research on the

natural antibiotic properties of frog skin.

[Guest guest]

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2011/09/21/2011-09-21_sharks_could_h\

old_key_to_human_health_squalamine_may_fight_a_range_of_human_viru.html

Sharks could hold key to human health; squalamine may fight a range of human

viruses

Afp Relaxnews

Wednesday, September 21st 2011, 4:19 PM

Sharks may hold the key to human health.

They may be primitive creatures but their bodies produce a sophisticated

substance that shows promise in fighting a range of human viruses from hepatitis

to yellow fever, researchers said Monday.

The compound, called squalamine, was discovered in 1993. However, a study in

the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences is the first to explore

its potential use against human viruses.

Researchers tested squalamine -- manufactured from dogfish sharks' livers -- in

lab dishes and in animal subjects and found it could inhibit or control viral

infections, and in some cases appeared to cure animals of their ills.

The project began when lead investigator, Zasloff, professor of surgery

and pediatrics at town University Medical Center, sent samples of

squalamine to a series of labs around the United States for testing.

Squalamine has been synthesized in a lab since 1995 and is no longer extracted

directly from shark tissue.

Tissue cultures showed it could " inhibit the infection of human blood vessel

cells by the dengue virus and human liver cells infected with hepatitis B and

D, " said the study.

Research on animals showed the compound controlled yellow fever, Eastern equine

encephalitis virus, and murine cytomegalovirus, a type of herpes virus that

afflicts rodents.

" It is clearly a promising drug, and is unlike, in its mechanism of action and

chemical structure, any other substance currently being investigated to treat

viral infections, " said Zasloff.

" We have not yet optimized squalamine dosing in any of the animal models we have

studied and as yet we do not know the maximum protective or therapeutic benefit

that can be achieved in these systems, " he added.

" But we are sufficiently convinced of the promise of squalamine as an antiviral

agent that we intend to take this compound into humans. "

Squalamine is safe for humans and has been considered a potential tool against

cancer and eye diseases, and some clinical trials for those targets are ongoing.

" In several of the early trials squalamine has shown significant and promising

activity... in both certain forms of cancer and in diabetic retinopathy, "

Zasloff told AFP in an email.

Zasloff discovered squalamine in 1993 and is also known for his research on the

natural antibiotic properties of frog skin.