Discovered a protein that HIV replication blocked

The authors of the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, believe that their discovery will help to create new ways to fight HIV. The human immunodeficiency virus, AIDS, and other viruses causing an intracellular parasite, and can not be reproduced without the live cells. Viruses in different ways, "cheat" the system cells, causing them to produce viral proteins instead of their own. Infected cell acts as a kind of plant for the production of virus particles - virions are need in the final phase of development outside of the membrane of infected cells go. Scientists have been known that most of the human cells of a factor which includes the output of virus particles regulated, but so far, this factor was not identified. Biologists at Emory University School of Medicine (Ga.), Vanderbilt University and the Mayo Clinic have found that HIV particles "locks" in the cells of a protein CAML (calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand). This protein functions in the last stage of the virus life cycle, the virions adhere to the cell membrane. Developed However, HIV and a means of defense against CAML - viral Vpu protein. Vpu if missing, viral particles can not be separated from the membrane. If researchers in the laboratory "removed" from the human cell protein CAML, they found that Vpu is not required to enter virus particles from the cell. When scientists CAML introduced into cells that normally do not prevent the escape of particles HIV virions remained on the cell surface. "This study is important because it shows that the CAML - an innate defense mechanism against HIV," - said one of the authors, Professor Paul Spearman of Emory University. His words are quoted in the release of the University. "We will continue the mechanism to counteract the Vpu protein CAML and to clarify exactly how CAML the particles of the virus adheres to the cell membrane Hopefully we will explore new avenues for treatment." - He said.