New 'weapon' to inhibit HIV

US scientists are experimenting with a new type of peptide that has a strong effect on preventing HIV from entering cells. This type of peptide will be clinically tested on humans within two years, opening up the opportunity to develop new drugs to fight HIV / AIDS.

After screening a ' library ' containing hundreds of millions of peptides, or amino acid sequences, the University of Utah team discovered a rare peptide, called a D-peptide, capable of binding Stick to a structure called 'pocket', available in all HIV lines.

Structure of D-peptide inhibitor
(Photo: Sciencedaily)

This structure has been identified by previous studies as an important component to help HIV penetrate cells. When attached to the ' pocket ' of HIV, D-peptide will inhibit that virus's ability to block.

Biochemist Michael S. Kay, who led the study, said: ' All strains of HIV have the same pocket, so when this structure is altered, HIV loses its ability to enter cells '. .

According to the team, D-peptide is an inhibitor, has a 40,000-fold greater resistance to bacteria than previously used peptides. Peptides are compounds that can exist in two forms: natural and artificial, such as hormones and antibiotics.

According to Kay, 'unlike natural peptides that are easily absorbed by the body, D-peptide is more stable, so it can survive and work in the body longer.'

According to him: 'D-peptide is much stronger than natural peptides and can be administered orally. Drugs made from artificial peptides are often ineffective because they must be injected and easily degraded by the body's effects'.

Before being used to develop a new drug against HIV / AIDS, D-peptide is being tested pre-clinically to determine its effectiveness as well as to know whether it is toxic or not.

Kay said: 'This inhibitor can be tested clinically in humans within 2 years. The remaining problem is the safety of such a drug '. According to him, the team is trying to answer the questions: 'Is the medicine toxic? Is there any element in the body that interferes with the drug's activity? '

When proven to be effective and safe, D-peptide can suppress HIV in people infected with the virus and prevent HIV infection to healthy people.

In addition, these inhibitors can also be used as microbicide to be used in intercourse to prevent HIV infection. Such a drug will be cheap and able to save many lives, especially in developing countries.

The study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society and the University of Utah Research Institute.

Quang Thinh