...and influenza. Turns out there's a protein in bananas that binds to high-mannose glycans. What are those, you might ask?
They're something that's present on the surface of viruses, but not healthy cells. The protein wraps around the virus and keeps it from infecting anyone.
They also confuse your immune system, but researchers now think they have a modified version that would work as a broad spectrum antiviral against all coronaviruses and influenza strains. The research began a while ago in the hunt for a treatment for MERS.
They're also examining it for use against cancer.
Bananas. Who'd have thought it.
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