Key Step in Way AIDS Virus Infects Cells Discovered by Researchers

Stanford scientists have discovered a key step necessary for the AIDS virus to infect cells, apparently offering a new target for drugs aimed at reducing infectiousness of the deadly virus.

The virus apparently must snip short a protein on its outer shell in order to fuse with a cell it seeks to infect, the researchers said in the journal Cell, published Thursday.

Although much more research is needed, the discovery suggests that drugs that interfere with the snipping step could block the virus’s ability to infect cells and destroy victims’ immune systems.

“We’ve identified a crucial step necessary for viral infectivity to occur,” said Dr. Mike McCune of the Stanford University School of Medicine, who led the research.

Researchers are now searching for the enzyme that acts as the chemical scissors to cut the protein, McCune said. If they can find it and develop an inhibitor for it, a way might be found to block the ability of the virus to infect cells, he said.

Another possible strategy is to develop substances that adhere to the “sticky” end of the protein exposed after the cutting, he said.

Neither approach would rid the virus from the body of an infected person.