Screening method IDs host of HIV drug targets

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:59:59 -0500

A team at Harvard Medical School--led by the geneticist Dr. Stephen J. Elledge--has opened up a new slate of drug targets, identifying 273 proteins that aid HIV reproduction in cells. Because the virus only uses 15 proteins, it has to capture proteins in the host to spread. Up to now only 36 proteins had been charged with breaking and entering human cells, a key stage for anyone attempting to create antivirals, especially for patients who had become resistant to the drugs currently on the market. The work entailed screening 21,000 cell samples and RNAi in order to identify the suspect proteins

"This is just terrific work," Dr. Robert C. Gallo, a prominent virologist at the University of Maryland told The New York Times. "I think it's destined to be one of the top papers in this field for the decade."

- see this press release on the findings
- read the article in The New York Times

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RNAi used as nonhormonal contraceptive

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 06:59:59 -0400

A group of researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston are focused on developing a new, nonhormonal contraceptive that uses RNAi technology to silence the ZP3 gene, which is required to fertilize an egg during ovulation. As the new therapy would only act on the most developed eggs, it would theoretically have no affect on other eggs, which could be used later for fertilization. The advantage would be an end to the kind of often harsh side effects some women suffer from contraceptives, including higher blood pressure. The team of scientists are working now to bring up the efficiency of the contraceptive to 100 percent, and expect to use a patch or vaginal suppository in order to skirt stomach acids.

"What we are trying to do is to think about contraception in a new way. Obviously there are going to be big hurdles and it is going to take a lot of time, but the need is there and we think it can be achieved. Using RNAi to target ZP3 is attractive because the gene is active only in growing eggs," researcher Zev Williams told The Times of London.

- read the report on the research from The Times

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