Shape of Things to Come: Structure of HIV Coat Could Lead to New Drug

In the world of medicine, one of the biggest breakthroughs know in the medical world has recently been discovered at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The highly infectious sexually transmitted disease, HIV, has been the main focus of structural biologist and director Angela Gronenborn, PH.D., at the University of Pittsburgh. These structural biologist used nuclear magnetic resonance and cryoEM to see the complex proteins and to study structure of the virus. In their studies of the virus they have found vulnerable "seams" in the capsid protein which make a protective covering surrounding the genome of the virus. Knowing the structure and the weakness in the virus, scientist can start to create a therapeutic compound that will disturb the proteins. By changing the "seams"structure, "the resulting viruses are less infectious or even non-infectious," said Dr. Greenborn
The discovery of the structure of HIV could not have come at a better time in the medical world. The recent threats of the H1N1 virus has became a major concern for the people infected with HIV. Thousand of people are infected with HIV, falling ill to H1N1 could lead to death with these people. With further research, hopefully will lead to antidote. An antidote would save thousands of people.

Link: Http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091112121559.htm