New weapon found to fight HIV virus
Updated on 28 November 2008
Scientists may have found a new weapon in the battle with the Aids virus.
Increasing the production of naturally occurring proteins that contain selenium in blood cells slows down the virus's multiplication, biochemists said.
Selenium is a micro-nutrient that the body needs to maintain normal metabolism. It becomes incorporated into proteins in the form of an amino acid called selenocysteine.
These proteins - selenoproteins - are especially important in slowing the spread of an infection, but are targeted by the HIV virus as it invades the body.
K. Sandeep Prabhu, assistant professor of immunology and molecular toxicology at Penn State University in the US, said: "We have found that increasing the expression of proteins that contain selenium negatively affects the replication of HIV.
"Our results suggest a reduction in viral replication by at least ten-fold."
The team's findings are outlined this week in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Researchers first isolated blood cells from healthy human volunteers who did not have HIV, and infected those cells with the virus. Next, they added tiny amounts of a selenium compound - sodium selenite - into the cell culture to see the effect on viral replication.
Results from the tests indicate that the addition of selenium inhibited the replication of HIV.
Mr Prabhu added: "Once we fully understand the function of these selenium proteins, it will give us a handle to come up with more effective drugs."
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