Summary and opinion
Newly identified natural protein blocks HIV, other deadly viruses
There has been a significant breakthrough in medical research. This is after a team of researchers from UCLA discovered a protein that fights deadly human viruses. This protein has broad virus fighting capabilities that can be used as the ultimate weapon for fighting human pathogens. Some of the viruses that have shown positive results with the protein include HIV, Rift Valley Fever and Ebola among others. These research findings were documented by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.
Scientists have been able to identify the compound responsible for the helpful protein. This is as was discovered by a research finding documented in the January issue of the Immunity Journal (Rivero 1). The protein has an antiviral property known as the Cholesterol -25 –hydroxylase (CH25H). This is an enzyme that converts a cholesterol compound to an oxysterol compound called 25 hydroxylase (25HC); this compound can permeate a cell wall and block a virus from getting its way into the cell.
The CH25 is activated by the interferon, which is an essential cell signaling protein produced by the body. The cell is antiviral plays a significant role in the virus from getting into the other cells. The compound CH25H can produce a natural and soluble oxysterol that can be synthesized and administered into the body. This enables its use as an alternative of the antiviral genes that are hard to apply. Positive results also show that the compound 25HC can inhibit the growth of HIV.
It has been found that the compound 25HC drastically inhibits HIV in cell cultures. A test of the compound on mice with human implants indicates that the virus shows the viral load was significantly reduced. It also discovered that the 25HC compound reversed the depletion of T cells when one is infected by HIV. The researchers found out that mice that did not have the compound CH25H were vulnerable to infections than others. A number of professors and researchers found out that the compound 25HC essentially inhibited the entry of HIV into the cell. It successfully inhibited the growth of other dangerous viruses such as Nipah, Rift Valley Fever Virus and Ebola.
The compound CH25 require interferon to be expressed in cells. As a protein, interferon does not have antiviral properties. It triggers the expression of antiviral genes. There are a number of other antiviral genes that are activated by the interferon. The compound CH25 provides a link of how interferon can cause the inhibition of the viral membrane. There are a number of shortcomings that have been discovered in the research.
It has been discovered that it is difficult to deliver the compound 25HC in large doses. Viral resistance of the compound against other deadly viruses such as Ebola and Nipah has not yet been conclusively discovered (Rivero 1). The researchers have not been able to compare the compound 25HC with the antiviral effects of HIV antiviral drugs. The scientific findings are great news to medical research. It means that scientists are close to finding the cure of deadly human pathogens. Priority should be given to researchers to ensure that find concrete answers to viral reduction. Compounds found to inhibit the development of the virus should be given more research time than others. There should be an effort to aid in large-scale delivery of the 25HC compound.
Works Cited
Rivero, Enrique. Newsroom.ucla.edu. UCLA Newsroom. February 11, 2013. Web. 2 April 2013.
