IBM Macromolecule Kills Ebola, Herpes, Dengue, Influenza in Tests

Viruses have always been the most difficult puzzle for medicine. Since they can mutate quickly and evolve, they easily defeat molecular countermeasures.

Computing giant IBM has unveiled a new macromolecule-like “molecular Velcro” to kill viruses like Ebola, herpes, dengue and influenza, according to the company.

“We have created an anti-viral macromolecule that can tackle wily viruses by blocking the virus from infecting the cells, regardless of mutations,” said Yi Yan Yang, a scientist at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore, one of the creators of the new material. “It is not toxic to healthy cells and is safe for use. This promising research advance represents years of hard work and collaboration with a global community of researchers.”

The polymer has a triple-action process that inhibits and kills the viral molecules. First, the macromolecule’s structure attracts viruses through hydrogen bonds with electrostatic interactions, which bond to the proteins on the viral surface.

Then a type of sugar called mannose in the macromolecule competes with the viruses for interaction with the human cells.

Finally, basic amine groups neutral the pH inside the viral cell to inhibit its replication, in case it does successfully enter a human cell.

Together, the three layers of protection successfully defeat the viruses, the scientists found.

“In early testing, scientists have seen no resistance,” IBM said in a statement. “By targeting both viral proteins and host-virus interactions, the antiviral macromolecule sidesteps the normal mutations that enable viruses to escape vaccines through the onset of resistance.”

The solution could be applied in an anti-viral wipe or detergent, and just a small amount of it dispersed in water could neutralize an entire room, the company said. Antiviral cleaning products and even vaccines are a possible target anywhere from 2018 to 2023, IBM added.

“With the recent outbreak of viruses such as Zika and Ebola, achieving anti-viral breakthroughs becomes even more important,” said James Hedrick, the lead researcher on advanced organic materials at IBM’s Almaden lab in San Jose. “We are excited about the possibilities that this novel approach represents, and are looking to collaborate with universities and other organization to identify new applications.”

The company’s research was published in the journal Macromolecules. It follows the unveiling of a so-called “ninja polymer” by IBM in 2011, and another synthetic used to kill fungi in 2013. Their breakthroughs with those synthetic materials have been hailed as having the potential to beat back the rise of the antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.”