<p>In a breakthrough, scientists have found that nanoparticles carrying a toxin found in bee venom can destroy HIV while leaving surrounding cells unharmed.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The finding is an important step towards developing a vaginal gel that may prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis said.<br /><br />"Our hope is that in places where HIV is running rampant, people could use this gel as a preventive measure to stop the initial infection," said researcher Joshua L Hood.<br /><br />Bee venom contains a potent toxin called melittin that can poke holes in the protective envelope that surrounds HIV, and other viruses. Large amounts of free melittin can cause a lot of damage.<br /><br />The new study shows that melittin loaded onto these nanoparticles does not harm normal cells because Hood added protective bumpers to the nanoparticle surface.<br /><br />When the nanoparticles come into contact with normal cells, which are much larger in size, the particles simply bounce off.<br /><br />HIV, on the other hand, is even smaller than the nanoparticle, so HIV fits between the bumpers and makes contact with the surface of the nanoparticle, where the bee toxin awaits.<br /><br />"Melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral envelope. The melittin forms little pore-like attack complexes and ruptures the envelope, stripping it off the virus," Hood said.<br /><br />According to Hood, an advantage of this approach is that the nanoparticle attacks an essential part of the virus' structure.<br /><br />In contrast, most anti-HIV drugs inhibit the virus's ability to replicate. But this anti-replication strategy does nothing to stop initial infection, and some strains of the virus have found ways around these drugs and reproduce anyway.<br /><br />"We are attacking an inherent physical property of HIV. Theoretically, there isn't any way for the virus to adapt to that. The virus has to have a protective coat, a double-layered membrane that covers the virus," Hood said in a statement.<br /><br />Beyond prevention in the form of a vaginal gel, Hood also sees potential for using nanoparticles with melittin as therapy for existing HIV infections, especially those that are drug-resistant.<br /><br />The nanoparticles could be injected intravenously and, in theory, would be able to clear HIV from the blood stream.<br /><br />While this work was done in cells in a laboratory environment, Hood and his colleagues said the nanoparticles are easy to manufacture in large enough quantities to supply them for future clinical trials.<br /><br />The study was published in journal Antiviral Therapy</p>
<p>In a breakthrough, scientists have found that nanoparticles carrying a toxin found in bee venom can destroy HIV while leaving surrounding cells unharmed.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The finding is an important step towards developing a vaginal gel that may prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis said.<br /><br />"Our hope is that in places where HIV is running rampant, people could use this gel as a preventive measure to stop the initial infection," said researcher Joshua L Hood.<br /><br />Bee venom contains a potent toxin called melittin that can poke holes in the protective envelope that surrounds HIV, and other viruses. Large amounts of free melittin can cause a lot of damage.<br /><br />The new study shows that melittin loaded onto these nanoparticles does not harm normal cells because Hood added protective bumpers to the nanoparticle surface.<br /><br />When the nanoparticles come into contact with normal cells, which are much larger in size, the particles simply bounce off.<br /><br />HIV, on the other hand, is even smaller than the nanoparticle, so HIV fits between the bumpers and makes contact with the surface of the nanoparticle, where the bee toxin awaits.<br /><br />"Melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral envelope. The melittin forms little pore-like attack complexes and ruptures the envelope, stripping it off the virus," Hood said.<br /><br />According to Hood, an advantage of this approach is that the nanoparticle attacks an essential part of the virus' structure.<br /><br />In contrast, most anti-HIV drugs inhibit the virus's ability to replicate. But this anti-replication strategy does nothing to stop initial infection, and some strains of the virus have found ways around these drugs and reproduce anyway.<br /><br />"We are attacking an inherent physical property of HIV. Theoretically, there isn't any way for the virus to adapt to that. The virus has to have a protective coat, a double-layered membrane that covers the virus," Hood said in a statement.<br /><br />Beyond prevention in the form of a vaginal gel, Hood also sees potential for using nanoparticles with melittin as therapy for existing HIV infections, especially those that are drug-resistant.<br /><br />The nanoparticles could be injected intravenously and, in theory, would be able to clear HIV from the blood stream.<br /><br />While this work was done in cells in a laboratory environment, Hood and his colleagues said the nanoparticles are easy to manufacture in large enough quantities to supply them for future clinical trials.<br /><br />The study was published in journal Antiviral Therapy</p>