Novel Molecule Could Halt Spread of HIV
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Posted on Oct 03, 2013, 6 a.m.
UK researchers design a macromolecule that mimics the binding of HIV to immune system cells and submit that it may be useful for stopping the virus from physically entering the body.
Queen Mary University (United Kingdom) researchers have created a large macromolecule with several sugar molecules, known as glycopolymers. By using different sugars attached to the macromolecule in solution, C. Remzi Becer and colleagues were able to investigate which sugar molecules could be effective in inhibiting the potential binding of the HIV virus. The team then measured how the designed macromolecules compete with the virus to bind to the dendritic cells of the immune system at different concentrations. The lead researcher submits that: “These are preliminary but encouraging results for potentially preventing the spread of the HIV by sexual contact.”
Jin Huang, Qiang Zhang, Guang-Zhao Li, David M. Haddleton, Russell Wallis, C. Remzi Becer, et al. “Synthetic Glycopolypeptides as Potential Inhibitory Agents for Dendritic Cells and HIV-1 Trafficking.” Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 3 September 2013.
