Scientists have cracked a puzzle about the HIV virus and how it works in the human body. This discovery could lead to better HIV treatments. The key is an enzyme called integrase.
What is integrase?
Integrase is an enzyme that assists HIV during the integration phase of the HIV replication cycle. Essentially, integrase helps HIV DNA copy itself into the host cell DNA.
HIV weakens the immune system by entering and taking control of healthy CD4 cells. Ultimately HIV destroys the immune system’s CD4 cells. Before these cells are destroyed, however, HIV uses the cell to produce and distribute more copies of the HIV virus.
Integrase plays a key role in the creation of new virus cells. Hijacked CD4 cells are only able to produce new copies of the HIV virus after integrase has done its job.
Who is doing the research?
Scientists at Imperial College London and Harvard University: Stephen Hare, Saumya Shree Gupta, Eugene Valkov, Alan Engelman & Peter Cherepanov.
When was it discovered?
January 2010
Why is this groundbreaking?
Researchers are now able to see the structure of the integrase enzyme, a previously impossible feat. It took over 40,000 trials to develop a crystal that gives a high quality three-dimensional view of the enzyme. Years of projects working to obtain a high-quality crystal had failed.
There is currently one drug in clinical use in Canada that blocks HIV replication by acting as an integrase inhibitor. It is now possible to see exactly how the drug works and potentially how to make improvements to the drugs efficacy. Understanding the structure of integrase will also open the door to development of new drugs that work to block HIV at this point in the replication cycle.
How long until treatment is available?
The researchers make no predictions as to how long it will be until new HIV treatments may be available based on the results of this research.
For more on this study:
Nature - Full Research Findings
cbc.ca - Enzyme structure cracks HIV puzzle
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