Release date: 2018-05-24 HIV is very rampant. They insert genetic material into the DNA of infected T cells, form a "virus pool" and exist in the patient for a long time in a dormant state. These latent viruses are the top priority of anti-AIDS. Recently, scientists have found a molecular mechanism that determines whether HIV itself remains active or dormant. This is expected to bring new treatment options to make the virus "never wake up." Image source: Pixabay Related research was published in the journal "Cell" under the title "A Post-Transcriptional Feedback Mechanism for Noise Suppression and Fate Stabilization". Scientists from the Gladstone Institute believe that with this newly discovered mechanism, HIV can find a balance between activity and dormancy, thereby 'invading the position' in an unstable host environment. Leor S. Weinberger, director of the Cell Loop Center at the Gladstone Institute, said the study may also explain the fate-making mechanisms of other cells, such as stem cells (whether they continue to maintain stem cell properties or differentiate into specific cells). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.04.005 1. "Virus library" Once HIV invades the human body, it inserts its genetic material into the DNA of the host's immune cells, forcing the host cells to complete the virus. However, some hidden viruses do not choose to destroy host cells; instead, they go to sleep. This "virus database" can lurk for a long time. Current AIDS treatment strategies can effectively reduce the number of active viruses in the body, but they are not good at fighting against latent HIV. Therefore, once the treatment is stopped, the dormant virus is very easy to make a comeback. This is also one of the key reasons why AIDS is still incurable. In a previous study, the Leor S. Weinberger team found that latent HIV was “not accidental†but a well-thought-out “survival strategyâ€. This strategy has an "evolutionary advantage" for viruses because HIV initially enters the human body and there are not many immune cells available for it to invade. If the virus is fully activated and the immune cells are destroyed at this time, there will be no remaining immune cells for continued infection. 2.HIV uses "gene expression noise" Once a dormant virus pool enters a tissue area with more target cells, it “wakes up†to ensure greater chances of survival and persistent infection. The Leor S. Weinberger team found that HIV maintenance of this choice (active or dormant) relies on a normal phenomenon in the cell – “random fluctuations in gene expression†(also called noise). It is precisely because of the existence of "noise" that the two cells with identical genetic material will have different amounts in the same protein expression. This difference is enough to affect the function and fate of the cell. The mechanism of expression of HIV in host cells is "alternative splicing," a mechanism that allows HIV to cleave genetic material and randomly combine them. Image source: Cell 3. Inefficient gene connection In the latest study, the researchers looked at individual cells infected with HIV. They found that the virus can control the noise of gene expression in a selective way to determine the fate of the host cell -- whether it is active or dormant. Moreover, this mode of connection occurs post-transcriptionally and is very inefficient so that HIV can better control decisions that remain active or not. If the HIV ligation mechanism is more efficient, it will produce fewer active viruses. Researchers believe that by using this mechanism to improve the efficiency of HIV connectivity, there is an opportunity to keep HIV in a dormant state, thus curbing the disease. This will be a different way of thinking about fighting AIDS. References: 1) This is how HIV decides to become active Source: Bio-Exploration Two-Piece Baseplate,2 Piece Colostomy Bags Chassis,Ostomy Bags Chassis,Hypoallergenic Ostomy Chassis Wenzhou Celecare Medical Instruments Co.,Ltd , https://www.celecaremed.com
