HIV fighter in blood

German scientists say they've spotted a natural ingredient in human blood that prevents the HIV-1 virus from infecting immune cells.

The finding, reported in the April 20 issue of the journal Cell, could lead to the development of a new class of drugs to fight HIV, the virus that causes Aids.

The team found that fragments of a blood molecule they call Virus-Inhibitory Peptide (VIRIP) inhibit HIV-1 and that making a few amino acid changes increased VIRIP's ability to block the virus.

The researchers also found that VIRIP and its derivatives were effective against drug-resistant strains of HIV.

New target in HIV fight
"The findings reveal a new target for inhibiting HIV that remains fully active against viral strains that are resistant to other drugs. That's a big advantage," study author Frank Kirchhoff, of the University of Ulm, said in a prepared statement.

Currently, there are about 20 different HIV drugs categorised into four different classes based on their modes of action, Kirchhoff noted. A number of HIV strains are becoming drug resistant, and HIV resistance to one drug can lead to resistance to other drugs in the same class.

"You want a lot of drug classes, because multi-drug resistant viruses are starting to show up more and more. In at least some industrialised countries, it is already a severe problem," Kirchhoff said. – (HealthDayNews)

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HIV/Aids Centre

April 2007