Important discoveries about viruses that cause AIDS

After 20 years of research, British and American scientists have solved an important problem about the virus that causes AIDS, paving the way for more effective treatments for this century's disease.

In a study published in the journal "Nature" on January 31, scientists say that a crystal form has been developed to help them see the structure of an enzyme called integrase, often available. in viruses such as HIV and is the target of treatment for some of the latest HIV / AIDS medicines.

By knowing the structure of integrase, the researchers are now able to understand the whole mechanism of integrase inhibitors, how to improve these drugs and how to prevent further resistance. increase of HIV virus.

Peter Cherepanov of the Imperial University of England, one of the authors of the study, said a number of new drugs for HIV treatment such as Isentress of Merck & Co and Elvitegravir of Gilead Science, have mechanisms of action. prevent integrase, but scientists still do not know exactly how and how to improve these drugs.

The aforementioned crystals were developed by researchers thanks to a version of integrase borrowed from other viruses that are similar in structure to HIV. Researchers have conducted more than 40,000 tests to produce a high quality crystal that allows them to see the three-dimensional structure of integrase. They also tested the drugs of Merck and Gilead on these crystals and for the first time saw how these two drugs reopen and block integrase.

According to UN figures, since the HIV / AIDS epidemic has spread, nearly 60 million people worldwide have been infected with HIV and 25 million have died. There is currently no preventive vaccine or cure for the disease.