HIV Infection Mechanism Discovered

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1993. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV Infection Mechanism Discovered

Washington Post (10/26/93) P. A13

Researchers at France's Pasteur Institute claim to have discovered how the AIDS virus penetrates and infects blood cells, a finding which could have major implications in the development of a vaccine. The team said it found a "co- receptor" molecule called CD26, which was identified several years ago, but whose function remained a mystery. According to the researchers, CD26 is used by all strains of the virus as a gateway into blood cells. Although they have known for years that HIV adheres to surface receptor molecules known as CD4, scientists still did not know how the virus actually got inside the cells to contaminate them, said Ara Hovanessian, head of the Pasteur Institute team. "The presence and functioning of the CD26 molecule are indispensable for the infection and spread of the virus in the CD4 cells," said a statement from the Institute. "In viral infections, the CD4 serves as the contact point for viral particles, while CD26 serves as the main door." The existence of this second receptor molecule sheds light on possible strategies to develop a vaccine that will "lock out" HIV, said the researchers. "The AIDS virus has always managed to have the key to open the CD4 receptor lock," said Hovanessian. "We hope to be able to develop drugs capable of jamming the CD26 lock so that the AIDS key will no longer fit." Because every strain of the disease uses CD26 to infect cells, researchers hope to develop a universal vaccine. Related Story: New York Times (10/26) P. C1; Wall Street Journal (10/26) P. B18; Philadelphia Inquirer (10/26) P.A7; Washington Times (10/26) P. A3

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