Four Viruses Infecting Fish Produce Insulin-Like Hormones

Scientists associated with the Joslin diabetes center have discovered that four viruses produced insulin-like peptides, which lowered blood glucose levels in mice and could possibly play a role in the development of certain metabolic diseases and cancers in humans. The scientists evaluated the gene sequences of viruses and found four viruses that normally infect fish with insulin-like sequences in their genes. These viruses produced proteins that resemble insulin, called insulin-like peptides. The peptides were also found to be functionally similar to insulin.