A new virus-killing technique could hit the market in just a few years
Posted 11.02.2010 at 2:00 pm
39 Comments
Virus Attack!
Virus (purple) circulating in the bloodstream recognised by antibodies (yellow) of the immune system
The Independent
Any immunology textbook will tell you that once a virus enters a cell, the only way to knock that virus out is to kill the entire cell. But a new study from the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge has shown a way to kill a virus from within the cell, leaving the virus defeated and the cell victorious and intact. This could be huge--not just a cure for the common cold, but for all kinds of other viruses as well.
The study, which will be published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tackles a fundamental of immunology. It has long been assumed that the body's last chance to eliminate a virus is before it enters a cell--once it's inside, it's game over. You can kill the cell, but doing that too often is harmful to the body's health. But this new study shows that the body actually has its own in-cell defense mechanism that can attack viruses once they've entered a cell--and they're hopeful that this defense mechanism can be enhanced through external means, making the cells even stronger.
Antibodies in the bloodstream attach themselves to free-floating viruses, and are taken intact with the virus once it enters into a cell. Before that virus gets a chance to hijack the cell, a naturally occurring protein called TRIM21 recognizes the antibody, and further notices that there's an interloper (the virus) attached to it--which, according to the strict bouncer-like rules of the TRIM21 protein, is not allowed. (Antibodies can't roll one-virus deep, is what I'm saying.) The TRIM21 protein then triggers the cell's defense mechanisms, which can destroy the virus in as little as one or two hours--long before the virus has a chance to take over the cell.
The research further speculates that that TRIM21 protein could be used as a sort of booster shot, perhaps delivered through a nasal spray (we do love inhalable medicine). The scientists have only experimented on cultured human cells, not whole animals, but are very confident that this kind of medicine could boost the cells' own defenses and give them the ability to kill viruses even after they've entered the cell. Assisting the cell's natural defenses allows the cell to remain functional after it's destroyed a virus--the best kind of medicine.
These scientists believe that this sort of cure could be ready to go to clinical testing in as few as two to five years--not soon enough to stop the onset-of-winter colds we're all about to contract, but encouragingly soon nonetheless.
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spiffyneat!
im sure theyll do the clinical trials just as painfully slow & tedious as usual.. but i feel like i need to urge people to take their time on this method, seems like it could backfire somehow??
..at any rate, it's very great & interesting news! ;D
Awesome!
Awesome!
Awesome!
Wow this is really cool to me because its does not seem they are really genetically enhancing anything just boosting what we already have.
Wow this is really cool to me because its does not seem they are really genetically enhancing anything just boosting what we already have.
Wow this is really cool to me because its does not seem they are really genetically enhancing anything just boosting what we already have.
Wow, this sounds pretty cool. I hate getting colds, which every sane person probably does too. So anything that would cause us to get less colds, or to make them not last as long would be AWESOME!!!!!
wait... what was the name of the corporation that is conducting the research again? Umbrella Corporation?!! WHAT!!!
Two words:
Zombie Apocalypse
this is so cool. it would be so nice no to have to worrie about getting a cold!
The "if it's too good to be true, probably is" rule isn't a proven scientific formula, of course. ;-) We have a lot of experience over the past few decades in proteins. I feel very comfortable with what I've read. This is great news.
This would be absolutely amazing if it actually works. Now i am too undereducated to fully understand the article, but from my understanding we could boost our cells natural defenses with a drug so that they can fight off the viruses even better. We have to create new flu vaccines every year because the virus adapts so quickly but this seems like it would be able to fight most virus strains because it is simply boosting the defenses already there. If so that would be great, much less work needed for creating new vaccines and depending on its strength perhaps getting rid of some viruses almost completely.
Also, does anyone know if this could be used as a permanent boost or simply a temporary one. Permanent would have obvious benefits such as just inhaling the drug once and having better defense against viruses for the rest of your life, but also it seems that permanent fixes to things can also have much worse affects on the body, especially with such a new concept that is untested.
Please correct me if i am wrong on anything i have said, as i stated before i do not know that much and biology an area of science that i do not know a great deal about.
5 words....
Oh My God, ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
Something doesn't make sense here or in the linked article.
The protein TRIM21 is a naturally occurring protein in the cell, it helps mount an intercellular immune response that destroys the virus in hours before it can make us sick.
But we still get sick now even with this naturally occurring protein. So the only thing I can think is that the time the body takes to learn to recognize the virus as a threat and develop antibodies against it is the limiting factor, not how much TRIM21. So a spray like the article said wouldn't do anything, and possibly cause unforeseen effects if given extracellularly. I don't know what else it could be.
Since when have colds and other virus been incurable?
Essential oils can kill viruses, in and outside the cell, and leave the cell healthy again, it's been around for thousands of years, just not something you can patent so FDA will never say it.
Google it and read to your heart's content.
Here's a link for starters:
www.suite101.com/content/essential-oils-fight-cold-and-flu-a29291
Isn't the common cold a good thing? I thought it kept our immune system in check.
Test it on people with AIDS that are a few months away from dieing, I bet alot of them would try this out even if it was just for science and it doesnt help them or even kill them.
Speed the testing phase up guys, this is ridiculous, 2 to 5 years... Come on, this is no longer the 1980's. Today we got Super-Computers, we evoluated so much socialy and humanly, we cant accept that research is done so slowly, if its government slowing down research by imposing regulation, then lets get rid of it as soon as possible. Let people who wants to be tested on be, we dont need government to tell them what to do with there bodies.
If we dont do it, other country like China will and they are going to be far ahead of us scientificaly and very soon.
would this mean they could develop a cure for herpes from this?
Looks like science is boldly going where no one has gone before......
@oneworddude - is there something your not telling us? ;)
This could be the first cure in human history! EPICNESS
We can only hope it doesn't cause zombies...
www.geekness.webs.com
Wait does this mean no more condoms!? no more trojan commercials?!
This sounds awesome!! My only question is....will it only defeat the weaker strands of viruses like antibiotics defeat weaker bacteria, leaving like super viruses in their place?! That soooo wouldn't be worth it then....
I should submit for testing, i've gotten sick once in my life, so i'm going on 23 years of perfect health. And I don't live what you would call a healthy lifestyle though I do work out 2-3 times a week.
Can we seriously discover a cure to stop people from spamming advertisements?
@ Yamalg
Dude this isnt a dating site,
And yes
ZOMBIE APOColyps, damn how do you spell apocolyps? anyone, anyon, Beuler...
If they did find a cure to all viruses, this would be way too cool!!!
Hopefully this happens! Sounds like the "perfect" solution so something has to happen as a problem/side effect :P.
My blog on health : http://vaalion.wordpress.com
Any chance Popsci might start citing their sources. I would really be interested in reading more about this. I am currently enrolled in a microbiology class, and we just happen to be covering viruses right now. Seeing a pre-filtered article/publication/journal would be neat.
Oops please excuse me I see it now in the blended pile of blue. I am too used to seeing them in a non hyperlink fashion.
@Mycellium
The protein attaches to stuff in your blood stream. since virus arnt living they don't have any active defense against it. they cant really adapt to this. plus if the proteins attached to say a red blood cell. the red blood cell would just destroy the protein. but if attaches to a virus. that virus is dead.
too good to be true. You have to be kidding. Did you really think with all of our advances in medicine and science there is anything humans cant do. something are a far ways away. but if we can dream we can build it or invent it. Did you really think we wouldn't be able to cure a virus one day. Sure it has been a dream for centuries, but it was simply a matter of time. We can control atoms and electrons, and program DNA. Our technology has surpassed to many expectations. We can wastch sci-fi movies that have "future tech" that already seems dated. We already have technology today that makes some things on The Next Generation look silly. IE smart phones and smart pads are way beyond almost anything we have seen in any movie. and we are close to having fold up paper thin displays too. (sony has already made them)
I read an article ten years ago that there was a new pill that was going to cure not only the common cold but, meningitis and about a hundred other things. Still haven't seen it! I hope something like this does become reality one day but, I'm not holding my breath.
haveing a cure for viruses is good but what our immune system if its not working as much wouldnt it become weaker....
As previous commenters have touched on,it may not be such a good idea to wipe out viruses that generate fever.Found this interesting article: www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/the-virtues-of-infectious-disease-104843624.html
Hey POPSCI people... fix your commenting system... nobody wants to look at these advertisements disguised as comments. Why is this website always so late to employ common standards in the comments section - such as an ability to like or dislike comments and blurring those with enough dislikes so they have to be clicked on to read.
These are the things you would think popsci would be on top of.
I guess the Bonnier Corporation just researches and writes about technology and doesn't employ it very well.
the biggest flaw that i can see with this,is that you have to start to show symptoms then you go out and buy the medicine. people aren't just going to walk around sniffing bottles every day, its just not cost effective.
other than that, good work.
to stay healthy i always try to keep up with my exercise. im not a scientist or anything, but i know i feel a lot better when im active. sitting inside just makes things worse. i actually heard about a new water bottle that is supposed to improve your health. it is made by FLEXR Sports, and usses a biodegradable liner inside that eliminates bpa. it is also great because bacteria build-up is impossible when you replace the liner every time you use it. it seems pretty cool. here is a link to their website if you want to check it out:
http://www.flexrsports.com/products/reusable-bpa-free-sports-water-bottles.htm