Is there a New Way to Prevent HIV?
stanford.edu
Researchers from the University of Minnesota, the U.S. has found that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which bind to and destroy specific antiviral proteins in the human body called APOBEC3F. From the results of this study open the possibility that a new approach to fighting HIV / AIDS by utilizing the antiviral activity of certain proteins.
Human cells produce antiviral proteins apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide (APOBEC) also has a unique and natural ability to destroy HIV. However, HIV can develop ways to overcome obstacles by using a protein called virion infectivity factor (VIF) in order to lower the APOBEC proteins and make the virus spread.
According to John Albin, co-author of research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry says that the VIF protein also interacts with an antiviral protein, namely APOBEC3F. They also found that these interactions might be disturbed by small changes in surface chemistry APOBEC3F.
“This shows that the interactions between VIF and antiviral APOBEC proteins can be blocked using a drug that will fortify the interaction region VIF. Such interventions have the potential to make as many as seven developing natural antiviral drugs and to prevent HIV spread,” said Albin.
Further study is needed to involve more detailed mapping of physical interactions between VIF and APOBEC3 proteins, investigation of potential HIV reject changes that stabilize the APOBEC3 proteins, and components such as drugs that can help destroy APOBEC HIV.
