Cell reports: transmembrane proteins prevent and inhibit intercellular hi

September 29, 2015 / BIOON / - there is no doubt that HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is devastating More than 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States, and more than 47000 people are diagnosed with AIDS every year Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that a specific protein can inhibit the development of the virus Human cells express interferon induced transmembrane (IFITM) proteins with antiviral properties These proteins can inhibit a variety of viruses including influenza A, West Nile, dengue and Ebola In his study, Shan Lu Liu, an associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology, was also an investigator at the center for life sciences at the University of Missouri School of medicine His research objective was the IFITM protein and its antiviral function "We have known for a long time that IFITM protein has antiviral effect, but until now we have not known exactly how the protein, especially how to inhibit the spread of HIV." Liu said "We know that HIV-1 is the most common HIV strain that can be transmitted between cells or through cell-free transmission Our research found that IFITM protein can help to inhibit viral infection caused by viral filtration between cells, which is the most effective way to spread AIDS " Dr Jingyou Yu is a graduate student of pathology at the University of Missouri His experiments show that IFITM proteins, especially ifitm2 and IFITM3, can prevent the transmission of HIV between cells Minghua Li is also a graduate student of pathology He found that IFITM protein especially interacts with HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein and inhibits the infectivity and transmission of mature virus In addition, Liu has replicated and validated his findings in research laboratories in Canada and New York "This discovery is quite unexpected Previously, in PLoS patterns, we found that this kind of protein usually affects the lipid properties of cell membrane and blocks the fusion of different viruses and host cells." Liu said "In the study of HIV and AIDS, scientists continue to learn more about the spread of the virus and its host response By understanding how the IFITM protein inhibits and blocks transmission, we will be closer and closer to finding better treatments to fight HIV " This article is the original compilation of Biovalley, welcome to reprint! Please indicate the source of the reprint and attach the original link For more information, please download Biovalley app