antiviral drugs

Molecular condom releases antivirals

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

Scientists at the University of Utah have developed a 'molecular condom' to protect women from AIDS. The smart condom is a vaginal gel that releases antiviral drugs when it comes into contact with semen. The research project is part of a widespread effort to develop microbicides to prevent the spread of HIV. There are some 16 microbicides in the developmental phase and five are being tested among African women. The researchers say the smart condom is still five years away from human testing. The scientific team would like to develop a gel that could be applied once daily or as little as once monthly.

- here's the release from the University of Utah

Related Article:
The challenges of infectious disease. Report

Scientists find potential Achilles heel in flu virus

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 19:01:39 -0500

Scientists at Rice University and the University of Texas in Austin say that they've found a weakness in the flu virus--both common flu viruses as well as bird flu--that could be a very effective target for new antiviral drugs. The target is the nucleoprotein, the flexible tail loop of the flu protein, often referred to as NP in shorthand. Any changes in the tail prevent the NPs from stacking together, a process that's necessary before cells begin to create the virus. A new antiviral that prevents the nucleoproteins from binding together could be a very effective method for preventing seasonal flu and ultimately guarding against a pandemic. Lead researcher Jane Tao says she is now studying thousands of compounds to see which is most likely to influence the NP.

- check out the press release on the finding
- here's the report on the research from The Houston Chronicle

Bird flu scientist says annual mutations likely

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 20:01:39 -0400

A leading WHO scientist concludes that the H5N1 strain of bird flu shows all the earmarks of being able to repeatedly mutate as it develops resistance against any antiviral drugs that are deployed against it. Mike Perdue says the only two anti-viral drugs currently believed to be at least somewhat effective against the virulent bird flu--Tamiflu and Amantadine drugs--already appear to be losing their effectiveness. And Perdue says that vaccines that work one year may well be useless the next.

- read the report on WHO's conclusions from The Philadelphia Inquirer

PLUS: University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers say they have discovered a peptide that prevents the influenza virus from attaching to cells, a move that would essentially prevent the replication of the virus as it infects its host. The peptide was tested on animals and cells in culture, stopping influenza of all stripes, including bird flu. Report

ALSO: The FDA has produced new guidelines to speed the development of cell-based vaccines. The agency wants to eventually end the use of eggs in vaccine production, saying that a cell-based approach is safer and far faster. Report

AND: Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a "competing virus" that slows the spread of influenza, making it easier to stop. They're working on developing a nasal spray to administer the therapy, which may also work against pandemic strains. Report