Scientists have identified substances in tuna that can fight SARS-CoV-2. Researchers from China studied 142 peptides contained in the muscle fibers of this fish, and found that one of them has a destructive effect on the pathogen. Experts are confident that their discovery will help create a nutritional supplement that will allow faster lung recovery of patients with COVID-19 and accelerate recovery. It can also be used prophylactically.
Antimicrobial peptides are small protein molecules, which in fact are elements of nonspecific innate immunity to a wide range of infectious pathogens – bacteria, microscopic fungi and viruses, Professor of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), head of the laboratory of ecology of microorganisms, told Izvestiya International Scientific and Educational Center for Biological Safety, School of Biomedicine, FEFU Mikhail Shchelkanov.
“So the anticoronavirus activity of peptides from tuna proteins certainly deserves close attention,” the professor emphasized.
At the same time, the scientist warned: the “tuna diet” is neither a curative nor a preventive measure in relation to COVID-19. The fact is that fish contains too few of the described peptides, and the required amount can only be contained in a medicine or food supplement based on tuna peptides.
Read more in the exclusive material of Izvestia:
Death of Kovidov in tuna: antiviral peptide found in fish