A molecule that helps stabilize the HIV virus has been discovered

Researchers have identified a key molecule exploited by the HIV virus and the discovery is of major importance in the destruction of the disease. Using a new microscopy technique, the researchers isolated a molecule called inositol hexacisphosphate (IP6). Experts believe that the virus attacks this molecule to infect cells.

The genetic makeup of viruses, such as HIV, is covered by a protein called capsid, which helps the virus to cross the immune system and transmit the infection to cells. Despite decades of research, specialists know little about how HIV works, writes Science Alert. By identifying the role of IP6, the mysteries are closer to being solved.

"How long has been studied has been observed how the capsid of the HIV virus is unstable by itself," said virologist David Jacques of UNSW, Australia. "This has led to the creation of theories that lack of stability may be important for the way in which the infection is established." In discovering IP6, we discovered that during HIV infection, the capsid "It's never alone. It's always exposed to IP6, which significantly stabilizes the heart of the virus," he added.

The researchers knew from previous studies that IP6 is able to help stabilize virion components, but the importance of the molecule in the life cycle of the virus HIV was not known. Thus, the instability of the capsid made it impossible to study in the laboratory because after extraction, it was quickly destroyed.

"I knew the problem was a missing ingredient: IP6," said Jacques. The discovery was made using a fluorescence microscopy technique to monitor capsular disintegration in real time. The team's method showed that IP6 is captured by the capsular pores.

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