The Biomolecular Structure Group at the John Curtin School of Medical Research. (L-R) Melanie Morris, Yamuna Karunasekara, Yan Fang Cui, Llara Weaver, Marco Casarotto and Han Shae Tae.
ANU Researchers have breathed new life into an old protein drug target in a discovery that could open the door to a new range of drugs to combat influenza. The researchers, Dr Marco Casarotto and Mr Matthew Rosenberg of the John Curtin School of Medical Research at ANU, looked at how older influenza drugs, known as the adamantanes, interacted with a key protein M2, found in the influenza virus. In the process, they settled an ongoing dispute between researchers around the world and raised the prospect of creating a new generation of influenza drugs. The paper on their findings, Coexistence of two adamantane binding sites in the influenza A M2 ion channel , is published in the latest issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 'This discovery gives us the starting point for the design of a new generation of drug which might lead to new anti-virals,' said Dr Casarotto. 'It's a significant step forward in combating influenza.' The researchers looked at older-style flu drugs which target the M2 protein. These drugs are no longer used because mutations have developed in most flu strains, leading to drug resistance and rendering this class of drugs useless.
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