[ad_1]
Researchers discover human protein that helps fight the Ebola virus
CHICAGO, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) – Researchers have discovered a human protein that helps fight the Ebola virus, according to a study co-sponsored by Northwestern University, Georgia State University, the University of California in San Francisco and the Gladstone Institutes.
The researchers used mass spectrometry – a technique that identifies specific elements in a mass sample – to study the interactions between human proteins and Ebola proteins. They found strong evidence of the interaction between VP30 Ebola virus and human RBBP6 protein.
After additional structural and computer analysis, the interaction was reduced to a small group of amino acids, sufficient on their own to disrupt the life cycle of the Ebola virus.
"If you take this peptide and introduce it into human cells, you can prevent Ebola infections," said Judg Holtkist, co-author and associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Northwestern School. of Vineburg.
"On the contrary, when the RBBP6 protein is removed from human cells, the Ebola virus repeats much faster."
The question is whether we can manipulate it in a pharmaceutical way to have therapeutic value, "said Nevin Krugan, professor of cellular and molecular pharmacology at the University of California, co-author of the study.
"What we are considering is a small molecular drug that mimics this human protein and can be used to fight the spread of the Ebola virus," said Holquist.
The study was published Dec. 13 in Journal ("The Cell").
<! – enpproperty
Source link
