Molecule created that could 'kick and kill' HIV

[Ptrk3]

Of course, if viable, this compound is years from clinical use, but it is something else to keep on the "radar" screen in HIV research.

From the October 5, 2017, edition of "Science Daily" (HIV/AIDS):

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171005141836.htm

From the article:

"...The latent HIV reservoir is very stable and can reactivate virus replication if a patient stops taking antiretroviral drugs for any reason," said Matthew Marsden, an assistant professor of medicine in the division of hematology oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and the study's lead author. "Our study suggests that there may be means of activating latent virus in the body while the patient is on antiretroviral drugs to prevent the virus from spreading, and that this may eliminate at least some of the latent reservoir."

To test the approach, the researchers gave antiretroviral drugs to mice that had been infected with HIV, and then administered a synthetic compound called SUW133, which was developed at Stanford, to activate the mice's dormant HIV. Up to 25 percent of the previously dormant cells that began expressing HIV died within 24 hours of activation.

With further development, the technique could lower the viral reservoir enough for people with HIV to be able to discontinue their anti-viral therapy, Marsden said.

SUW133 is based on bryostatin 1, a natural compound extracted from a marine animal called Bugula neritina. The research determined that the new compound is less toxic than the naturally occurring version...."


For research "geeks," here's the link to the technical research article (published  September 21, 2017, in PLOS (pathogens):

http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1006575

[Jim Allen]

Jan 10th 2022:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27647-0
Latency reversal plus natural killer cells diminish HIV reservoir in vivo

My summary:

In a recent study, 4 out of 10 mice showed no vial rebound that had been treated with ART and then a combination of SUW133 and an injection of PKC with follow-up injections of cytotoxic T white cells.

[leatherman]

4 out of 10 mice showed no vial rebound

aww! I feel bad for those other 6 mice. 

[Almost2late]

I wonder if they performed the treatment a second or third time would it work on the other 60%?

[Da2020]

i wish i was one of the mice.