Protein detection inhibits the ability of HIV to infect

A group of Swiss, Italian and American scientists have recently identified the SERINC5 protein that could significantly inhibit the ability of HIV-1 to infect human cells.

Finding the Protein that inhibits HIV's ability to infect

Based on the identification of the HIV virus carrying a protein called "Nef" , capable of infecting more viruses to human cells, the researchers attempted to accurately determine how to control it. Nef.

In particular, through the study of the interaction of 31 different cell lines with Nef protein, they also discovered that SERINC5 is a protein membrane that can fight HIV.

Explaining in detail about the study, expert Federico Santoni, who teaches at the University of Geneva's Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, says when the virus multiplies in the cell, it uses Nef to neutralize a particular protein function to protect cells against HIV.

Protein SERINC5 can significantly inhibit the ability of HIV-1 to infect.

So, the researchers' goal is to identify this unknown protein to understand why some cells are more susceptible to HIV than others.

To test this mechanism, they created the HIV strain lacking Nef protein, but there was SERINC5 protein. Without Nef, HIV can infect cells as usual - but when separated from cells, they will mix with some SERINC5 proteins.

Once the HIV virus approaches a cell in the new infection, SERINC5 will immediately issue alarms, alerting the cells to the presence of the virus, thereby creating a mechanism to prevent further infection.

According to Santoni, the scientific community needs to continue to consider this defense mechanism to assess, understand vulnerabilities in new treatment strategies, or by strengthening the presence of SERINC5 in all cells. , or by changing the structure to activate it to escape Nef inhibition.

What is especially important is that the precise amount of Nef and SERINC5 that can be interacted with each other will help researchers develop anti-HIV therapies - the dangerous virus that infects people if not possible. Prompt treatment will turn to AIDS Deficiency Syndrome and the risk of death is very high.