Artificial molecules enhance immunity against HIV virus

Researchers at Yale University in the United States have synthesized an artificial molecule capable of boosting the immune system against the HIV virus and the cells attacked by the virus.

HIV virus.Photo: Henrik Johnson

In addition, these molecules also work on prostate cancer cells. According to research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, this may be an important step in the fight against these two incurable diseases.

According to Daily Science, molecules named ARM-H and ARM-P are the results of research by chemistry professor David Spiegel at Yale University. As described in the publication, these molecules work by simultaneously connecting an immune antibody to the protein of the HIV virus, HIV-infected cells or cancer cells.

When the harmful cells are surrounded by antibodies, they are no longer able to spread but will be easily destroyed by the immune system. "Instead of trying to kill the pathogen, these molecules will control the immune system to do that," Professor Spiegel said.

ARM-H and ARM-P are easy to produce in bulk but less expensive. In addition, because it does not harm normal cells, these two types of molecules do not cause any serious effects on the body of the drug user. If successful, this may be one of the most important steps of the 21st century world medicine.