By finding cures for dangerous diseases do, many experts around the world. But the disease is known, it is easier to prevent than to treat. And recently, Russian scientists from the Federal research and clinical center for physical-chemical medicine special synthesized molecules of nucleic acids, preventing infection of body cells by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
As you know, the virus getting into the human body, finds a CD4 counts and joins their receptors with the help of special proteins of glycoproteins. Adherence to CD4 triggers the processes of fusion of cell and viral membranes, which is the first stage of infection. And the Russian scientists managed to develop a new aptamer that prevents the fusion of HIV with the cell. First you need to explain that this aptamer. This is a short single-stranded fragment of nucleic acid is able to recognize specific target molecules and join with them.
Russian scientists developed a DNA aptamer recognizes the surface glycoprotein of HIV and binds to it. Thus, the receptors of the virus is blocked and it cannot connect with the cells of the immune system. As said an employee of the Federal scientific clinical center of physico-chemical medicine Anna Varigal,
“Our development can later be used in the creation of the means of HIV prevention, as the aptamer is not toxic to human cells and effective. Obtaining a prototype of the drug — not a very distant prospect. The active ingredient we have left to choose a convenient dosage form. I want to note that the important role in research was played by our colleagues from the Institute of molecular biology named after V. A. Engelgardt. The next phase, conduct preclinical and clinical trials, is the key. We hope to find partners to promote our development.”
Based on materials of RIA “news”
Russian scientists have synthesized a molecule that prevents HIV infection
Vladimir Kuznetsov