This article talks about how scientists of microbiology have recently found a protein that blocks diseases such as AIDS, Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, and Nipah, called cholesterol-25-hydroxylase. The thing that makes the discovery so amazing is that it is naturally found in our own bodies. The only thing that we need to make it so that it permeates a cell's walls in order to block the diseases is an enzyme. The enzyme was discovered to be 25-hydroxycholesterol. The protein needed to trigger the protein is called Interferon, which is a protein a naturally occurring antiviral cell-signaling protein in the body. HIV has been tested in mice, and has had significant anti-viral effects. It has yet to be tested for diseases such as Ebola.
This pertains to the nature of science very much, because it is the study of disease. This especially pertains to biology, because it is the study of life. This is a great discovery, and it may end up leading us to a solution to problems such as AIDS and Ebola, and best of all, it is found in our own bodies. The nature of science is studying the natural world, and this is the study of the interactions of diseases with proteins and enzymes, which is very natural. This clearly connects to the nature of science.
(picture of AIDS attacking a cell)
Submitted by Cameron Kurisko
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