This is Scientific American’s 60-Second Science, I am Cynthia Graber, this will just take a minute.
The disease hepatitis C might provide a new tool in the fight against HIV AIDS ,say scientists at the Scripps Institute and in the Netherlands.The research was published March 31st online in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.A segment of one of the proteins of the hepatitis C virus is called C5A.Ironically the segment or peptide is actually deadly to the hepatitis virus.So scientists wondered if it could kill the HIV virus as well.They found that in cell cultures C5A did indeed damage HIV,it also interfered with HIV's ability to infect cells such as the immune system's T-cells.And C5A properties are in effect at low PH,which is important to any therapy based on it were to be used by women before sex.The researchers say that C5A has a wider range of anti-viral activities than other antimicrobials peptides.Scientists hope that the hep C peptide research will lead to the development of anti-viral therapies that could help prevent the sexual transmission of HIV.
Thanks for the minute for Scientific American’s 60-Second Science. I am Cynthia Graber. |