Academy of Military Medical Sciences

GA, UNITED STATES, July 18, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / -- A deadly tick-borne illness, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome ( SFTS ), continues to claim lives with no specific antiviral treatment. However, a breakthrough study reveals that lipoxygenase (LOX), an enzyme previously known for its role in inflammation, etc., can effectively halt the progression of SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection. By disrupting the viral envelope through lipid peroxidation, LOX prevents the virus from infecting host cells, offering a potential new strategy for combating this deadly disease. This discovery could have far-reaching implications for the treatment of other dangerous enveloped viral infections as well. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was reported in Asia, with a fatality rate that can reach as high as 50%. Despite efforts with existing antiviral drugs, no treatment has consistently proven effective. Lipoxygenase (LOX), a natural enzyme involved in the oxidation of fatty acids, has recently attracted attention for its antiviral properties. Research has shown that LOX can alter the structure of viral envelopes via lipid peroxidation, preventing the virus from entering host cells. Given the urgent need for effective therapies, this discovery suggests that LOX might be a key player in the battle against SFTSV and similar viral infections. Based on these challenges, further research is essential to understand how LOX can be leveraged in antiviral treatment. Published (DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwae061 ) in Protein & Cell (October 2024), a letter-style study reveals the remarkable antiviral potential of lipoxygenase (LOX) in fighting the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). The new research, led by teams from the Academy of Military Medical Science and other esteemed institutions, shows that LOX can disrupt the viral lipid envelope through peroxidation, preventing the virus from infecting host cells. These findings could lead to the development of innovative antiviral therapies, not only for SFTSV but also for other enveloped viruses. The study demonstrated LOX's powerful ability to prevent SFTSV infection in lab-grown cells. By catalyzing lipid peroxidation, LOX disrupts the viral envelope, which is essential for the virus to bind to and infect host cells. The researchers tested this mechanism in both in vitro experiments and a mouse model, where they observed a significant reduction in viral replication and less severe tissue damage in mice treated with LOX-pre-incubated virus. LOX pre-treatment also showed promise in combating other enveloped viruses, including influenza and vesicular stomatitis virus, highlighting its broad-spectrum antiviral properties. These results suggest that LOX could be a powerful tool for stopping viral infections at multiple stages of the disease. Dr. Wei Liu, one of the corresponding authors of the study, explains: This research reveals a new potential weapon against viral infections. LOX is capable of destabilizing the viral envelope by catalyzing lipid peroxidation, rendering the virus unable to infect host cells. This discovery is exciting because it not only opens new possibilities for treating SFTSV but also paves the way for future antiviral therapies targeting other dangerous enveloped viruses. The findings from this study position LOX as a promising candidate for future antiviral therapies. Its ability to disrupt the viral membrane offers a novel approach to treating SFTSV, which has proven difficult to manage with existing drugs. Furthermore, LOX's broad-spectrum activity against other enveloped viruses suggests that it could play a significant role in tackling various viral infections. Future research will be crucial to refine LOX-based treatments, optimize its use in clinical settings, and explore its full potential as a therapeutic tool for viral diseases. DOI 10.1093/procel/pwae061 Original Source URL https://doi-org.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/10.1093/procel/pwae061 Funding information The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22121003). Lucy Wang BioDesign Research email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Washington: US lawmakers and industry leaders are calling for stricter export control regulations to prevent US biopharmaceutical companies from collaborating with China's military on biotechnology initiatives. The call comes as part of ongoing concerns over China's (PRC) strategic efforts to advance its biotech capabilities, including the potential for US technology to be leveraged for military and intelligence purposes. In a letter addressed to Gina Raimondo , the US Secretary of Commerce, a coalition of policymakers and experts argued that the US government should implement export controls on US companies engaging with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) medical institutions. These institutions have been linked to hundreds of clinical trials over the past decade, raising alarms over the potential transfer of sensitive data and intellectual property to military-linked entities. The proposal builds on recent regulatory efforts by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on July 29, 2024, aimed at expanding export controls on military and intelligence end-users. Lawmakers view this as an opportunity to update and strengthen controls to prevent US biotechnology from falling into the hands of the PLA. "The competition between the United States and China in biotechnology is a matter of national security, public health, and economic prosperity," the letter states. It cites the PRC's 14th Five-Year Plan, which emphasizes the importance of biotechnology for national power and military success. The letter further underscores concerns voiced by Chinese military officials about the potential for biotechnology to produce "synthetic pathogens" that could be used in warfare. The letter also highlights the growing concern over US biopharmaceutical companies working directly with PLA medical institutions such as the Academy of Military Medical Sciences ( AAMS ), which is currently on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Entity List. These collaborations, the letter argues, expose valuable US proprietary data to a military regime with explicit ambitions to leverage biotechnology for strategic gain. While current export controls do not restrict the chemical compounds of drugs or related intellectual property, the letter calls for more specific language in the proposed rule to require a licensing process for US entities seeking to conduct clinical trials with PLA medical institutions. The authors recommend broadening the definition of "Military End User" to include medical facilities operated by the national armed services of China, making such collaborations subject to stricter oversight. The proposal has garnered support from key industry stakeholders who argue that regulating clinical trials with PLA-linked institutions would help protect U.S. technological innovations and safeguard American national security interests. The letter suggests that only a small number of such licenses would be necessary each year, based on existing data, as few PLA-run hospitals are involved in clinical trials. "We are hopeful that the US biopharmaceutical industry will prioritize partnerships with non-PLA medical institutions in China if regulatory restrictions are implemented," the letter added. "These actions would not only protect US national security but also ensure that US technologies are not exploited for military purposes." As the US government considers the regulatory changes, industry leaders and lawmakers are eager to engage with the Department of Commerce to discuss the details of the proposed rule and how it could be further refined to address the evolving threats posed by China's biotechnology ambitions. Notably, US continues to grapple with the implications of its ongoing technological rivalry with China, with biotechnology emerging as a crucial front in the battle for global dominance in science and security. (ANI)

China Food and Drug Network - November 15th to 16th, the first China Pharmaceutical Valley Future Biological Innovative Drug Conference sponsored by the Daxing Biological Pharmaceutical Industry Base Management Committee of Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park was held in Beijing Daxing. Focusing on the high-quality development of biomedical innovative drugs, the conference gathered more than 300 academics, industry experts and enterprise representatives to conduct in-depth discussions on promoting the deep integration of the development elements of the medical and health industry, and explore effective strategic paths for the future development of biomedical innovative drugs. Under the background of the rapid development of the global biomedical industry, fully releasing the innovation vitality, accelerating the transformation of scientific research results into practical applications and promoting high-quality development have become the common problems faced by the biomedical field. At the meeting, Jiang Jiandong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Institute of Materia Medica of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, reviewed the development history of innovative drugs in our country and showed the deep heritage of Chinese original drugs. He stressed that innovative drug research and development should pay attention to "systematic thinking", find key targets in complex systems, and play the "head goose" role of key targets in disease intervention to achieve precision treatment. Professor Du Jie, Beijing Institute of Cardiovascular and Vascular Diseases, took the research and development process of "Sungen Biomedical SGC001 injection" as an example, and described its innovation in depth. He believes that the precise identification of the key molecules of a disease will be a breakthrough in the development of new drugs. Li Huiyan, a researcher at the Academy of Military Medicine of the Academy of Military Sciences, from the perspective of new immune checkpoint target discovery and antibody drug development, shared 3 possible future innovative drug R&D directions: the regulation of sleep by biological rhythms, the regulation of autoimmune diseases in neuroimmune aspects, and the direction of tumor immunotherapy. Professor Liu Yuling, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Chinese Union Medical College, introduced the development idea of "Mulberry branch total alkaloids" and its indication expansion in the field of metabolic diseases. She said innovative drug development could draw inspiration from ancient Chinese medicine and should be guided by clinical value. The conference focused on the hot topics of "biological innovation technology", "CXO and innovative drugs to the sea", "biomedical innovation, investment and financing" and other industry topics. Valuable suggestions for the future development of biological innovative drugs were forwarded from the dimensions of technical route of innovative drug R&D, construction of basic R&D platform, opportunities and challenges of clinical research, exploration of new drug routes to sea, investment and financing strategies. The conference also held the establishment ceremony of the Bioeconomy Committee of the China Asian Economic Development Association and the China Pharmaceutical Valley Biomedical Industry Alliance. Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park Daxing Biomedical Industry Base (hereinafter referred to as Daxing Pharmaceutical Base), also known as "China's Pharmaceutical Valley", was established in 2002. Up to now, Daxing Pharmaceutical Base has more than 800 enterprises, with 101 platforms in 11 categories, such as public service, CRO, CDMO, common technology, laboratory animals and laboratory testing. It has formed three pillar sectors: vaccine, traditional Chinese medicine and high-end medical devices, and focused on five frontier tracks: cell gene therapy, nucleic acid drugs, medical aesthetics, innovative animal drugs and synthetic biology. (Chang Rui-bo) Source: China Food and Drug Network