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Protein that destroys HIV discovered

Loyola researchers identify six crucial amino acids in cell cultures.

By Katy Rank LevWed, Aug 25 2010 at 10:16 AM EST
 4

AIDS ribbon Photo:trygveu/Flickr
Researchers at Loyola University in Maryland have made a potentially shattering discovery: a protein called TRIM5a can destroy HIV in rhesus monkeys.According to an article on the Kurzweil news site, "TRIM5a-based treatments [could] knock out HIV in humans."
 
According to the article, researchers have been working with the protein since 2004 and found that TRIM5a first latches on to the virus and other proteins "gang up and destroy the virus." The protein is also found in humans but does not protect against HIV the way it does against other viruses. The article mentions that the new task is to "turn TRIM5a into an effective therapeutic agent."
 
The Loyola researchers have identified six individual amino acids on the TRIM5a protein that help the protein "inhibit viral infection," according to the story. By altering these specific amino acids, the researchers saw that the protein could then no longer block HIV infection, telling them that these specific proteins were crucial to the process. The article points out that the study at Loyola did not use actual rhesus monkeys but cell cultures instead.
 
Using "deconvolution" microscopes and fluorescently dyed proteins, the researchers are observing the proteins and amino acids at work and measuring their microscopic interactions. The next step for the researchers is to identify amino acids or combinations that can help human TRIM5a destroy HIV.
 
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Related Topics: Science, Viruses & Diseases

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anonymous
BlackHand 05/04/2011 16:42 PM

It isn't hard to "crop" the trim5a from monkeys in large quantities and inject them to humans as a first attempt to heal. Also it is in general known that mathematics and architectural structure applies in medicine generally. The HIV eitherway isnt hard to cure, the excuses for the delay are pathetic. Untrained monkeys are doing better than the scientist as they have made for themselves the cure and dont die by HIV. Join The Brotherhood of NOD and take part on our researches to save mankind. In.... More

anonymous
Mary 12/14/2010 10:22 AM

This was actually discovered at Loyola University Chicago, not Loyola University Maryland. The two are in no way affiliated.

kranklev
kranklev 12/14/2010 14:51 PM

Mary, you are correct. The article should have referenced the Loyola University Health System and not Loyola University of Maryland. I regret the error.

anonymous
MNN User 08/25/2010 15:42 PM

The only interview with the guy that discovered this can be found here! Check it out.
There's a lot of rumors going around about this story that arn't true. READ THE INTERVIEW!

http://ithp.org/articles/hivinterview.html

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