TreatmentUpdate81 - Vol. 9, No. 7 - pp. 1-2; September 1997
Sean Hosein
Researchers in the US have found a type of bacteria that contains a protein with powerful antiviral activity. The protein called CV-N (cyanovirin N) permanently damages HIV-1 (and related viruses HIV-2 and SIV) thus preventing the virus from infecting cells. CV-N has potential therefore as an anti-HIV drug. What some people find exciting about this is that the type of algae used were cyanobacteria or blue-green algae. It may be possible to harvest these algae and sell them as supplements as with other algae. Researchers could then conduct trials of the algae to see if it has anti-HIV activity in people. The extract CV-N is currently being tested in animals to see if it causes toxicity. If its toxicity is low, then presumably studies in monkeys infected with SIV will be conducted to find out if it is useful there.
How CV-N works
Researchers are not sure exactly how CV-N works, but it exerts its anti-HIV effect in a way that's different from other "known anti-HIV chemical[s]". CV-N affects HIV at the stage preceding its invasion of a cell. Thus, CV-N may complement the activity of drugs that work at other points in the life-cycle of the virus. In lab experiments, CV-N did not cause any toxic effects when cells were exposed to it over the short term (2 days). Large scale production of CV-N is underway at the NIH (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland). Researchers there have taken bacteria and forced them to produce CV-N. We will keep readers informed as further news develops.
REFERENCES:
1. Boyd MR, Gustafason KR, McMahon JB, et al. Discovery of Cyanovirin-N, a novel Human Immunodeficiency Virus-inactivating protein that binds to viral surface envelope gp120: potential applications to microbicide development. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 1997;41(7):1521-1530.
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