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There has yet to be a definitive cure for COVID-19 but scientists are doubling down on efforts on researching and developing possible treatments for the pandemic. As millions of people all over the world are getting infected with hundreds of thousands of deaths and recoveries, scientists are checking out every possible option, and one particular researcher says it might be found in one type of seafood.
University of Maine Professor Robert Bayer claims that the cure for COVID-19 may be found in lobsters, specifically in the crustacean’s circulatory fluid called hemolymph. This fluid is mostly viewed as waste especially as it is produced after the lobster is caught by fishermen. However, according to Professor Bayer, the hemolymph has a certain kind of protein that has worked as an anti-viral treatment for diseases such as herpes and shingles. Thus, it may not be far off to become a possible cure for COVID-19.
Although it is unclear whether this could really fight coronavirus, Professor Bayer remains optimistic. “Coronaviruses are different, but I think that it’s at least worth a look to see whether we can inhibit coronaviruses, either by blocking the entry into the cell or by inhibiting the virus itself. That’s what we’re working to do,” said Professor Bayer, who is also the research director for Lobster Unlimited.
The semi-closed circulatory system in lobsters has hemocyanin, which is a protein that is similar to hemoglobin in our blood, carrying oxygen along with antiviral properties that can benefit the body’s immune system. Because the hemocyanin found in lobsters has not been used before, Professor Bayer says it could potentially become effective in treating COVID-19 as it seems to work on other viral diseases.
Onto other COVID-19 cure breakthroughs, the BBC reports of an initial clinical trial of a possible treatment for the coronavirus was done. The results suggest that this treatment can help reduce the number of COVID-19 patients that will require intensive care. The trials came from biotech company Synairgen that is based in Southampton, which makes use of a protein known as interferon beta that is naturally produced by the body in case of a viral infection.
This protein is inhaled by COVID-19 patients through a nebulizer, with the hopes of stimulating the body’s immune system to respond. Based on the findings, this type of treatment cut down the chances of COVID-19 patients developing severe cases by 79 percent.
