Newly Identified Natural Protein Blocks HIV, Other Deadly Viruses

Link:

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/02/11/newly_identified_natural_protein_blocks_hiv_other_deadly_viruses.html

Summary:

Researchers at UCLA have discovered a protein with virus-fighting properties that could be used to block pathogenic viruses.  These viruses include HIV, Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, and Nipah.  All of these diseases were considered "priority pathogens" for national biosecurity purposes by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

The protein that the researchers discovered was cholesterol-25-hydroxylase (CH25H).  CH25H is an enzyme that converts cholesterol into 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), an oxysterol.  25HC can penetrate a cell's wall and block a virus from getting in.  CH25H is activated by interferon, an antiviral cell-signaling protein that is produced in the body.  Su-Yang-Liu, the lead author, believes that this discovery could help to  lead to the development of other antivirals for the increasing umber of merging viral pathogens.

The researchers initially found that 25HC blocked HIV in cell cultures.  Next, they injected 25HC into mice implanted with human tissues.  They discovered that the load of HIV in the mice fell dramatically in seven days.  The 25HC also reversed the depletion of T-cells that occurs because of HIV.  There were also mice that had the CH25H gene removed.  These mice were more susceptible to a mouse gammaherpes virus.

NOS Themes:

Science is collaborative- "In collaboration with Dr. Benhur Lee..."
Science is based on evidence- "Next, they administered 25HC in mice implanted with human tissues and found that it significantly reduced their HIV load within seven days."
Role of Skepticism- "Antiviral genes have been hard to apply for therapeutic purposes because it is difficult to express genes in cells."

Andrew Nemecek, Hour 2