Future eradication (cure) of virus's

Love to read articles like this !

http://www.ll.mit.edu/news/DRACO.html

MIT Lincoln Laboratory researchers develop a technique to cure a broad range of viruses:

As part of the PANACEA (for Pharmacological Augmentation of Nonspecific Anti-pathogen Cellular Enzymes and Activities) project, researchers from MIT Lincoln Laboratory have developed and demonstrated a novel broad-spectrum antiviral approach, called DRACO (for Double-stranded RNA [dsRNA] Activated Caspase
Oligomerizer). DRACO selectively induces apoptosis, or cell suicide, in cells containing any viral dsRNA, rapidly killing infected cells without harming uninfected cells. As a result, DRACO should be effective against virtually all viruses, rapidly terminating a viral infection while minimizing the impact on the patient.

Dr. Rider says that although more extensive testing is needed, "DRACO has the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of virtually all viral diseases, including everything from the common cold to Ebola." He adds, "Because the antiviral activity of DRACO is so broad spectrum, we hope that it may even be useful against outbreaks of new or mutated viruses, such as the 2003 SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] outbreak."

[desrt]

Interesting approach. I'm curious as to how this method is able to differentiate between viral RNA and the body's own mRNA.

[Aaron57]

No idea how the mechanics of the biochemistry of DRACO works .. however it appears it is non toxic in uninfected cells .. If i understand correctly ...

In work reported in the journal PLoS ONE, DRACO was shown to be effective against all 15 viruses that the team has so far tested in cells, including cold viruses (rhinoviruses), H1N1 influenza strains, adenoviruses, a stomach virus (reovirus), a polio virus, dengue fever virus, and several members of hemorrhagic fever arenavirus and bunyavirus families. DRACO was also demonstrated to be nontoxic in 11 different cell types representing various species (e.g., humans, monkeys, mice) and organ types (e.g., heart, lung, liver, kidney). In addition, experiments demonstrated that DRACO not only is nontoxic to mice but also can save mice infected with a lethal dose of H1N1 influenza.

[mikesimon]

Fascinating.
Thanks for posting.

Mike

[Aaron57]

Great to see research like this being conducted & always a pleasure to share ...

[alagirl]

It's amazing to think about.  Of course, the cynic in me always wonders about the law of unintended consequences should something like this work.