Possible Discovery to Stop HIV

Twenty five years ago when scientists discovered HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, they have been trying to find a cure. Although they have not found one yet there have been some advances in treatment that help slow the spreading of the virus. But now in Loyola University there has been a possible breakthrough. Researchers have figured out the components of TRIM5-alpha, a natural protein that gangs up and destroys the virus in rhesus monkeys. For those who do not know, rhesus monkeys are brownish monkeys from India who are used in biological and medical research. According to senior researcher Edward M. Campbell, PhD, of Loyola University Health System this finding could lead to new TRIM5a- based treatments that would knock out HIV in humans. Due to a 225,000 dollar microscope and the knowledge of Yogi Berra researchers at Loyola think they know why just six individual amino acids differ between humans and the rhesus monkey cells. With this information researchers are hoping to identify an amino acid, or a combination of amino acids that enable TRIM5a to destroy HIV. Then once this happens it might be possible to genetically engineer TRIM5a to make it more effective in humans.

This article relates to biology because it is about how scientists are finding part of protein that is stopping HIV in rhesus monkeys. This is important because HIV is a huge thing in biology that is still being studied in order to find a cure. Biology is the study of life and HIV is a virus that destroys many lives. All this research that is being done is going to be worth it when enough information is gathered. Every time a new advance is made in the search for the cure of HIV it is a step closer to saving a life.

People should definitely read this article to be aware of the new findings in science. Although this one might not seem like a big one it is because it is about finding a cure in HIV. The article is significant because it speaks about a new discovery that is getting researchers closer to big news in science. HIV is one of the very important focuses in science and there are many labs focusing on it so any finding no matter how small is very important.



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