Washington Blade - September 2, 2005

IRVINE, Calif. - Chemical biologists have found that a simple, harmless virus may be a steppingstone to more effective and efficient development of HIV and anti-viral drugs, officials at the University of California at Irvine reported in a news release this week. The biologists, Gregory Weiss and Allison Olszewski, used the virus, a bacteriophage, to learn how an HIV protein responds to a new class of anti-viral molecules they discovered. HIV constantly mutates into new variations and builds resistance to drugs, making it difficult for scientists to develop effective drugs to fight the virus. The bacteriophage can model millions of mutational variants of an HIV protein, Weiss and Olszewski found, and that gives researchers a better ability to identify broad-spectrum anti-HIV compounds, UCI leaders noted in the statement. The results of the study were posted in the online version of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. "Viruses are clever about mutating to defeat the best efforts of chemists and biologists," Weiss, an assistant professor of chemistry and molecular biology and biochemistry, said in a press release. "By recruiting a harmless virus, we're learning how HIV will respond to new classes of anti-viral drugs before these compounds are tested in the clinic, which is currently an expensive and time-consuming process."

Teen with HIV files another complaint alleging job bias

WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) - For the second time in three years, a teenager claims a food-related business discriminated against her because she's HIV-positive. Korrin Krause, 19, claims a Schofield restaurant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by ignoring her application for a waitress job early last year because she was infected with the virus that causes AIDS, according to a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Madison. "She applied for a job she is qualified for," said Robert Tomlinson, an attorney for the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission's Milwaukee office, which filed the lawsuit on Krause's behalf. "It appears the only reason she wasn't hired was because of her HIV status." An attorney for the Log Cabin Restaurant, Cari Westerhof, was out of the office and unavailable for comment. The owner of the restaurant, Keith Kappel, said he bought the business last December, and the job dispute involves previous owner Dean Lee, who did not immediately return a telephone message.

Gay charity launches relief effort for Niger

SAN FRANCISCO - The Rainbow World Fund, a gay charity group, is campaigning to fight famine via its new Niger Relief Campaign, the organization announced in a news release. The combination of a severe drought, massive locust invasion and last year's poor agricultural season has left nearly 4 million people in Niger at risk of starvation. Rainbow World Fund is partnering with Africare, the oldest and largest African American-based humanitarian aid group, to help the people of Niger by raising funds to reach them. "This unique partnership is bringing the LGBT and African-American communities together in a powerful way to help heal the world," Rainbow World Fund founder Jeff Cotter said in a news statement. The gay charity's mission is to promote philanthropy in world humanitarian relief. "RWF helps people in need by raising awareness and funds to support existing relief efforts around the world," Cotter said.

British officials launch review of fertility laws

LONDON (AP) - The British government last week launched a review of its fertility laws, asking for the public's views on issues such as gender selection, screening of embryos and fertility treatment for lesbian couples. The public consultation on the Human Fertilization & Embryology Act, which became law in 1990, is scheduled to run until November and result in a government policy paper. Ministers hope the exercise will reveal whether the legislation needs to be updated to reflect medical developments and ongoing ethical debates. Among other issues, the consultation asks whether fertility clinics should probe the family structure the child will be brought up in. "The consultation raises many complex issues on which there are many different and strongly held views," said Public Health Minister Caroline Flint. "There are important matters of reproductive freedom and responsibility, professional autonomy and how best to safeguard the welfare of the children."

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