A new study has found that a molecule secreted by the East Asian bullfrog could offer a promising new treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Early-stage research presented at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference revealed the protein was effective at boosting insulin production and improving glucose tolerance in mice.
More than five million people in the UK are living with diabetes, and about 90 per cent of them have the type 2 form of the disease.
This condition occurs when the insulin made by beta cells in the pancreas doesn't work properly, or the organ doesn't produce enough of the hormone.
Managing type 2 diabetes can be difficult, making it crucial to have various treatment options available.
Some medications, like Trulicity and Ozempic, are based on substances found in animal venoms and skin secretions.
Previous research funded by Diabetes UK discovered a molecule in frog skin secretions called tigerinin-1R, which can boost insulin release and suppress glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels.
Dr Opeolu Ojo at the University of Wolverhampton led a study that examined the effects of combining tigerinin-1R with a hormone called GIP, a component of existing type 2 diabetes drug tirzepatide. This drug triggers insulin release from the pancreas and suppresses appetite.
The results showed that when combined, the two molecules did not cause any safety concerns and improved insulin secretion in lab cells. The dual-combination drug increased insulin production by 50 per cent in mice with type 2 diabetes compared to tigerinin-1R, and by 30 per cent compared to GIP alone.
The combination drug was also more effective at improving glucose tolerance in mice.
Dr Ojo highlighted the significant potential of peptides from amphibian skin secretions in his research, especially in the clinical use for treating type 2 diabetes.
“By combining these peptides with some of the molecules that our body produces naturally, our desire is to create a safe and powerful alternative to current anti-diabetic medications which have many challenges, including their side effects and the ability to restore the body's ability to control blood glucose,” he said.
Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, praised the research for uncovering the untapped potential of the molecule, which could lead to better treatment options.
“We look forward to exploring how this exciting new combination treatment could be used to help people living with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and potentially reduce their risk of serious diabetes-related complications,” she said.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Background: Chemical Weapons
