AUSTRALIAN EXPERTS OFFER HOPE FOR AIDS CURE

Tweaking Virus Protein Can Shield Cells From Contracting HIV Infection

          In a break through, Australian researchers claim to have discovered how to modify a protein in Human Deficiency Virus ( HIV) which could lead to a potential cure for Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

         According to researcher David Harrich from Queensland Institute of Medical Research, the protein can be modified so that instead of replicating, it protects against the deadly infection.

          "I consider that this is fighting fire with fire. What we've actually done is taken a normal virus protein that the virus needs to grow, and we've changed this protein, so that instead of assisting the virus, it actually impedes virus replication and does it quite strongly," Harrich said.

         He added that modified protein cannot cure HIV but it has protected human cells from AIDS in the laboratory.

       "This is therapy is potentially a cure for AIDS. So it's not a cure for HIV infection, but it potentially could end the disease," he said. Over 30,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV in Australia.

        If clinical trails are successful  one treatment could be effective enough to replace the multiple therapies they currently need.

        "Drug therapy targets individual enzymes or proteins and they have one drug, one protein. He added that they have to take two or three drugs, so this would be a single agent that essentially has the same effect. "So in that respect, this is world first agent at multiple steps of the virus life cycle," he added.

      He said that the new treatment has the potential to make big improvements in the quality of life for those carrying HIV. "I think what people are looking for is basically a means to go on and lives with as little intrusion as possible. You either have to eliminate the virus infection or alternatively you have to eliminate the disease process and that's what this could do, potentially for a very long time, Harrich said.

     Harrich added that animal rials are due to start this year and early indications are positive.