 |
|
U of M identifies cell line that is resistant to retroviruses, including HIV
October 18, 2006Researchers at the University of Minnesota have identified a protein that enables viruses such as HIV to infect cells and spread through the body.
This discovery gives drug developers a target to discover new types of drugs to stop the virus from spreading.
The research, led by Nikunj Somia, Ph.D., assistant professor of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, will be published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and will appear in a subsequent print edition of the journal.
HIV is a parasite that does not have enough proteins of its own to complete its life cycle. To survive, the virus needs to use proteins in the cells that it infects.
Currently, the drugs that are available to fight HIV act on proteins that the virus itself produces.
"The downfall of existing HIV drugs is that since the virus is constantly changing, the drugs eventually stop working, and the virus becomes drug resistant," Somia said. "We hypothesized that if we could find the proteins within the cells that HIV uses to make more copies of itself, we would find a potential new and more effective way to fight HIV."
To begin their search for these proteins, they first induced mutations in cells through chemical manipulation; this made random mutations in the DNA of the cell lines. Then they altered HIV so it contained a protein that immediately kills cells, and infected the different mutant cell lines.
The Somia laboratory found that some cell lines lived after being infected with HIV. In the cell lines that live, the HIV is able to get into the cell, but it is attacked. The cell's proteasome, a "machine" in the cell that destroys or chews up proteins, attacks the virus, preventing it from making more copies of itself.
Proteasomes are signal dependant machines in the cell, and proteins are typically "tagged" to be destroyed.
"Finding the switch that turns on the proteasome machine in cells to seek and destroy the virus could be a powerful therapeutic agent in the fight against HIV and in controlling AIDS," Somia said.
University of Minnesota
HIV is a parasite that does not have enough proteins of its own to complete its life cycle. To survive, the virus needs to use proteins in the cells that it infects.
Currently, the drugs that are available to fight HIV act on proteins that the virus itself produces.
"The downfall of existing HIV drugs is that since the virus is constantly changing, the drugs eventually stop working, and the virus becomes drug resistant," Somia said. "We hypothesized that if we could find the proteins within the cells that HIV uses to make more copies of itself, we would find a potential new and more effective way to fight HIV."
To begin their search for these proteins, they first induced mutations in cells through chemical manipulation; this made random mutations in the DNA of the cell lines. Then they altered HIV so it contained a protein that immediately kills cells, and infected the different mutant cell lines.
The Somia laboratory found that some cell lines lived after being infected with HIV. In the cell lines that live, the HIV is able to get into the cell, but it is attacked. The cell's proteasome, a "machine" in the cell that destroys or chews up proteins, attacks the virus, preventing it from making more copies of itself.
Proteasomes are signal dependant machines in the cell, and proteins are typically "tagged" to be destroyed.
"Finding the switch that turns on the proteasome machine in cells to seek and destroy the virus could be a powerful therapeutic agent in the fight against HIV and in controlling AIDS," Somia said.
University of Minnesota
Retrovirus Current Events and Retrovirus News RSSHoping for a fluorescent basket case
Although recent advances have raised hopes that a protective vaccine can be developed, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains a major public health problem.
New chemically-activated antigen could expedite development of HIV vaccine
Scientists working to develop a vaccine for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) report they have created the first antigen that induces protective antibodies capable of blocking infection of human cells by genetically-diverse strains of HIV.
Researchers find first evidence of virus in malignant prostate cells
In a finding with potentially major implications for identifying a viral cause of prostate cancer, researchers at the University of Utah and Columbia University medical schools have reported that a type of virus known to cause leukemia and sarcomas in animals has been found for the first time in malignant human prostate cancer cells.
New research strategy for understanding drug resistance in leukemia
UCSF researchers have developed a new approach to identify specific genes that influence how cancer cells respond to drugs and how they become resistant. This strategy, which involves producing diverse genetic mutations that result in leukemia and associating specific mutations with treatment outcomes, will enable researchers to better understand how drug resistance occurs in leukemia and other cancers, and has important long-term implications for the development of more effective therapies.
Vaporized viral vector shows promise in anti-cancer gene therapy
A new lung cancer therapy employing a vaporized viral vector to deliver a cancer-inhibiting molecule directly to lung tissue shows early promise in mouse trials, according to researchers at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Korea.
UCSF team closer to creating safe embryonic-like stem cells
A team of UCSF researchers has for the first time used tiny molecules called microRNAs to help turn adult mouse cells back to their embryonic state.
Penn Study Identifies How Ebola Virus Avoids the Immune System
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have likely found one reason why the Ebola virus is such a powerful, deadly, and effective virus. Using a cell culture model for Ebola virus infection, they have discovered that the virus disables a cellular protein called tetherin that normally can block the spread of virus from cell to cell.
Gene therapy demonstrates benefit in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Researchers have reported the first clinical evidence that gene therapy reduces symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an important milestone for this promising treatment which has endured a sometimes turbulent past.
Yamanaka eliminates viral vector in stem cell reprogramming
Shinya Yamanaka MD, PhD, of Kyoto University and the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (GICD) has taken another step forward in improving the possibilities for the practical application of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology.
Body's anti-HIV drug explained
Humans have a built-in weapon against HIV, but until recently no one knew how to unlock its potential.
More Retrovirus Current Events and Retrovirus News Articles
 |
Retrovirus by T. L. Higley (Author) Retrovirus is now available in an inexpensive mass market paperback edition! Nicholas Donovan is a brilliant genetic researcher with little time for God. He's also damaged goods-and knows it-because one of his patients died in clinical trials for a cancer therapy. So why would SynTech Labs be eager to hire the disgraced doctor? Donovan's not sure-but he's not asking questions. Now, as the new head researcher on SynTech Labs' latest gene therapy, Nick is surprised to learn how many Christians are scheduled for injections. When he discovers a stockpile of fatal gene therapies, questions flow. Can he investigate without wrecking his career. . .and perhaps uncover the soul he didn't know he had? |
 |
Human Retrovirus Protocols: Virology and Molecular Biology (Methods in Molecular Biology) by Tuofu Zhu (Editor) A cutting-edge collection of basic and state-of-the-art methods optimized for investigating the molecular biology of this class of retrovirus. These readily reproducible techniques range from methods for the isolation and detection of human retroviruses to cutting-edge methods for exploring the interplay between the viruses and the host. Here, the researcher will find up-to-date techniques for the isolation and propagation of HIV, HTLV, and foamy virus from a variety of sources. There are also assays for determining the cell tropism of HIV-1, the coreceptor usage of HIV-1, and human gene expression with HIV-1 infection by microarrays, as well as for phenotyping HIV-1 infected monocytes and examining their fitness. Highlights include the detection and quantification of HIV-1 in resting... |
 |
Retroviruses: Molecular Biology, Genomics and Pathogenesis by Norbert Bannert (Editor), Reinhard Kurth (Editor) |
|
Virus Hunting - AIDS, Cancer, and the Human Retrovirus: A Story of Scientific Discovery by Robert Gallo (Author) | |
|
Human Retroviruses (Frontiers in Molecular Biology) by Bryan R. Cullen (Editor) The first book to specifically cover the molecular biology of retroviruses. With contributions by some of the world leaders in the field, this book provides a detailed review of current knowledge. This extremely important area has come to the forefront of research activity, especially with the emergence of HIV-1. The text reviews the molecular basis for cell tropism, and the various novel and ingenious viral mechanisms implemented to maximize viral spread while avoiding elimination by the human immune response. An excellent text for medical and non-medical researchers of human retrivology, it also serves as an illuminating introduction to the subject for scientists active in other areas of biological research. | |
 |
Interactions Between Retroviruses and Herpesviruses by H. J. Kung (Author) Retroviruses and herpesviruses are two common human pathogens. Co-infections of these two viruses in the same individuals are frequently observed, especially in patients afflicted with AIDS. Potential consequences of such interactions include the exacerbration of the disease, changing the disease courses and the release of new viruses. Understanding the underlying mechanism is important, but, thus far, few insights have been gained. The present monograph is intended to provide an updated and concise review of recent work regarding the molecular and cellular mechanisms of such interactions. The topics covered range from transcriptional regulation, receptor modulation and genetic recombination to AIDS and oncogenesis. Human immunodeficiency virus, avian leukosis virus, reticuloendotheliosis... |
 |
Retrovirus Biology and Human Disease by Robert C. Gallo (Author), Flossie Wong-Staal (Author) |
 |
Virus Hunting: Aids, Cancer, And The Human Retrovirus: A Story Of Scientific Discovery by Robert C. Gallo (Author) The co-discoverer of the AIDS virus tells his story of scientific discovery. |
|
Molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases induced by human retroviruses: a review.(Report): An article from: American Journal of Infectious Diseases by Bryan P. Irish (Author), Zafar K. Khan (Author), Pooja Jain (Author), Michael R. Nonnemacher (Author), Vanessa Pirrone (Author), Saifur Rahman (Author), Nirmala Rajagopalan (Author), Joyce B. Suchitra (Author), Kate Mostoller (Author), Brian Wigdahl (Author) This digital document is an article from American Journal of Infectious Diseases, published by Science Publications on July 1, 2009. The length of the article is 20919 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. From the author: Key words: HIV-1, HTLV-1, neuropathogenesis, viral proteins Citation Details Title: Molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases induced by human retroviruses: a review.(Report) Author: Bryan P. Irish Publication: American Journal of Infectious Diseases (Magazine/Journal) Date: July 1, 2009 Publisher: Science Publications Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Page: 238(28) Article Type:... | |
 |
Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus and Lung Cancer. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, No. 275 by Hung Y. Fan (Editor) Retroviruses have been of great importance to biomedical science for the past half century. Initially, studies on oncogenic animal retroviruses provided important insights into molecular processes in carcinogenesis - most notably the existence and mechanisms of action of oncogenes and proto-oncogenes. Moreover, several human diseases are caused by retroviruses, including AIDS, adult T-cell leukemia and the neurological disease HAM/TSP. The topic of this volume is a relatively unknown animal retrovirus, jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus, the causative agent of transmissible lung cancer in sheep -- ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The disease was first documented in South Africa in the 1800s, it has a wide geographical distribution, and it is of economic importance in high endemic regions.... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |