New drug gives hope for HIV complete recovery

September 11, 2020  23:34

Scientists from the University of Michigan have discovered a potential way to completely recover from HIV, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported referring to a study.

The immunodeficiency virus uses the Nef protein to hide from the immune system. Using this protein, the virus suppresses the activity of another protein, MHC-I, preventing the immune system from recognizing infected cells that need to be removed.

Scientists screened a database of 200,000 small molecules and found that there are no known compounds among the FDA-approved drugs that could block Nef and restore MHC-I function. However, in the LSI library of microbial synthesis products, which contains information on 30,000 compounds, they found a class of antibiotics called pleycomacrolides that can block Nef.

Pleycomacrolides are widely used in lab experiments where it is necessary to disable lysosomes - organelles in which damaged cell components are destroyed. Amid the blast, these substances are considered too toxic and dangerous to be used as medicines. However, the pleicomacrolide concanamycin A inhibits Nef at much lower concentrations than those required to inhibit the lysosome.

During the study, scientists treated HIV-infected Nef-expressing cells with concanamycin A. So they found that cytotoxic T cells were able to cleanse infected cells. However, further research is needed to develop suitable drugs.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter


 
  • Video
 
 
  • Event calendar
 
 
  • Archive
 
  • Most read
 
  • Find us on Facebook
 
  • Poll
Are you aware that in 2027 medical insurance will become mandatory for all Armenian citizens?
I’m aware, and I'm in favor
I’m not aware, and I'm against
I'm aware, but I'm still undecided
I'm not aware, but in principle I'm in favor
I'm not aware, but in principle I'm against
It doesn't matter to me