Seabed solution for cold sores
The blue blood of abalone, a seabed delicacy could be used to combat common cold sores and related herpes virus following breakthrough research at the University of Sydney.
The small to very large edible sea snails contain potent anti-viral properties and chemical engineers in collaboration with virologists at the University of Sydney have identified how these properties block the herpes virus 's entry into cells.
Professor Fariba Dehghani, Director of Bioengineering Research at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies led the multi-disciplinary team that made the breakthrough.
"Hemocyanins are giant copper-containing glycoproteins and their primary function is to collect and deliver oxygen to desired tissues," explains Professor Dehghani.
Our study shows that abalone hemocyanin inhibits herpes simplex infection," she says.
"We know once infection occurs the virus integrates itself into a body 's nerve cells where it lays dormant awaiting reactivation.
When awakened it travels back along the nerve tracks to the surface where it takes the form of watery blisters and ulcers on the skin."
Professor Tony Cunningham, director, Westmead Millennium Institutes says there are a range of acyclovir equivalents that have been prescribed to treat this often painful viral infection. While the treatment can shorten the disease, it cannot kill the virus.
Statistics show more than 70 percent of Australians carry the herpes simplex 1 with approximately 13 percent carriers of the herpes simplex 2 which can cause genital herpes.
"With the information we now have, we are hopeful that we can develop an anti-viral therapy that will prevent or reduce recurrence of the virus and/or hasten healing of the lesions," states Professor Cunningham.
The raw material for the research came from the blood of black lip abalone found in pristine bays along the Tasmanian coastline.
The healing properties of abalone were discovered by accident says Mr Adrian Cuthbertson, CEO, Marine Biotechnologies Australia Pty Ltd and the University 's industry research partner.
"Ten years ago we were involved in an abalone serum trial relating to cancer treatments. During the clinical tests where patients drank a processed form of Abalone blood they reported a much lower incidence in their cold sore breakouts," says Mr Cutherbertson.
"Around the same time we had an employee responsible for loading and unloading abalone shells containers. After a month of working with the shellfish he found that the viral warts which had plagued his hands for years disappeared."
This convinced me that abalone had to be investigated for its anti-viral properties." says Mr Cuthbertson.
Mr Cuthberston says three years ago after a few setbacks he was referred chemical engineers at the University of Sydney who also enlisted the expertise of virus researchers at the Westmead Millennium Institute.
This discovery is expected to lead to the generation of a new class of anti-viral compounds.
Looking forward Mr Cuthbertson says the discovery has the potential to enhance the value of the Tasmanian abalone fishery.
