Chemical 'blocks HIV infection'

A chemical has been

identified which could halt
the progress of HIV, US
scientists say.

Lab tests of the chemical -

CSA-54 - at Vanderbilt
University show it disables the
virus's ability to infect cells.
The compound appears to stop HIV
It was shown to attack HIV in getting in to cells
a new way - targeting the membrane of the virus to stop it
locking on to cells.

UK experts said the research was interesting - but warned a

great deal more research was needed before its true value
could be known.
We will need to see tests
on humans before we can
The family of chemicals from
know its true value
which CSA-43 come -
ceragenins - are synthetically
Roger Pebody, Terrence Higgins
produced small molecule Trust
chemical compounds.

They were developed by scientists at Brigham Young

University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and
are licensed to a company called Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals,
which sponsored this research.

The compounds work by being electrostatically attracted to

the negatively charged cell membranes of certain viruses,
fungi and bacteria, the researchers say.

This mechanism is also seen in antimicrobial chemicals in the

body's immune system.

Hype 'unwanted'

HIV specifically targets a type of immune cell called at CD4+

cell for infection.

The lab tests showed CSA-54 blocked infection by disrupting

HIV's ability to interact with the cells.

But it was not toxic to skin cells when tested at higher

concentrations than those needed to disable the virus.

Dr Derya Unutmaz, Associate Professor of Microbiology and

Immunology at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine,
who carried out the tests, told the Salt Lake Tribune: "We
have some preliminary but very exciting results.

"But we would like to formally show this before making any

claims that would cause unwanted hype."

He added: "This is particularly important as a compound that

targets the viral membrane is likely to be effective against all
strains of the virus, regardless of mutations as the viral
membrane remains unchanged."

UK experts agreed the study was an interesting

development.

Most HIV treatments attack the virus when it has already

infected a cell.

One drug, Fuzeon, stops HIV infecting the cell at all - like this
new compound.

But Fuzeon works by attacking the co-receptor of the HIV

virus, and this does not work for all strains of the virus.

Roger Pebody, Terrence Higgins Trust's treatment advisor

said: "This is a novel approach to stopping the virus infecting
other cells.

"However it is very early test tube research and is many

years away from clinical trials. We will need to see tests on
humans before we can know its true value."

Nicola Douglas, of the National Aids Trust said: "Any research

which offers hope of a cure for HIV is extremely welcome.

"In the last few years, HIV treatments have come a long way
towards giving people longevity and quality of life, but Aids
continues to kill more people worldwide than any other
infectious disease."

Brigham Young University and Vanderbilt have jointly filed a

patent on the compounds.