Enzyme structure key to understanding deadly viruses: study

Updated on: Friday, January 06, 2012

Australian scientists have determined the structure of a key enzyme that could facilitate the understanding of how deadly viruses like HIV and Hepatitis C infect the human body.
 
A team of researchers led by Melbourne University scientist Spencer Williams and Gideon Davies from UK-based University of York studied the bacterial endomannosidase as a model for the same human enzyme and successfully determined its three-dimensional structure using state-of-the-art synchrotron technology.
 
The finding, published in the international journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is expected to pave way for a significant advancement in the understanding of how these viruses hijack human enzymes to reproduce and cause diseases, leading to development of new drugs to combat them.
 
"In past the problem has been that these group of viruses including HIV, Hepatitis C, Dengue fever and West Nile virus were able to bypass the main pathway if inhibited and replicate via a second pathway using this enzyme. Thus for an effective treatment, both pathways need to be blocked," Williams said.
 
Another researcher Davies said the team hopes that the findings will go beyond the study of viruses and will point the way towards similar treatments for other diseases including cancer.

More Education news

• Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees
• Heads of government and private schools directed to keep a close watch on the behaviour of teachers
• Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions submits his report
• Everyone will be given due representation says Goa CM
• Pune Education Department to hold meetings with schools to ensure a smooth RTE implementation
• Health and Medical Education, Forest and Home departments within the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act
• 'value education' courses in engineering colleges to inculcate better values and character building
• students challenge new NET gidelines
• Proposed multi crore edu city project nearing completion
• 21 engineering colleges affiliated to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to seek accreditation
• MBBS and PG medical seats to be increased by 50% and 100% respectively from academic year 2013-14
• M S University's faculty of fine arts mired in controversy over a painting hurting religious sentiment
• IICA inks MoU with Bangalore-based National Law School of India University for forging academic partnership
• President asks private players to contribute in improving the standards of higher education
• First technical and medical university at picturesque Apatani Plateau in lower Subansiri district
• Prayas scheme to be extended to 4 more districts
• Jamia Millia Islamia Professor gets Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
• Japans new government will not waive tution fee to pro-Pyongyang high schools
• Most Israeli high school students found accessing Mobile phone during class hours
• UGC notifies the procedure and criteria for declaration of result for NET to be conducted on 30.12.12