Research Concerning a New Form of Aids Prevention

Life Cycle of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The current microbicide to combat HIV, which turns into AIDS, involves focusing on the viral replication stage of the process. However, this process is both expensive and not easily mass produced. At the University of Utah, ongoing research efforts by Patrick Kiser, Alamelu Mahalingham, Anthony Goennotti, and Jan Balzarini have discovered a certain class of compounds that aid in the inhibition of the spread of AIDS. This compound attaches itself onto the coating of the AIDS virus. It then inhibits the virus from infecting other cells and spreading.

The HIV virus is coated with sugary compounds the cause the immune system to overlook it. Lectins are compounds that bind to this coating. These are expensive to make and then purify. Therefore, Kiser manufactured a synthetic version of lectins, benzoboroxole or BzB. These would bind to the HIV coating, however they would make weak bonds. In order to remedy this, Kiser manufactured polymers of BzB that were larger and had more than one binding site. Kiser states that, “The polymers we made are so active against HIV that dissolving about one sugar cube’s weight of the benzoboroxole polymer in a bath tub of water would be enough to inhibit HIV infection in cells.” This new method of inhibiting HIV could be revolutionary.

This article particularly interested me because of a close family friend who died due to AIDS. If this method of preventing AIDS by inhibiting HIV passes clinical trials and goes on to becoming a widely used drug, many people would not lose loved ones due to this virus.

http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=10368

http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/infections/human_immunodeficiency_virus_hiv_infection/human_immunodeficiency_virus_infection.html