This approach seems pretty feasible. Most things we try against viruses cause eventual resistance on the part of the virus, but I can’t think of any way to develop a resistance against destroying the dsRNA. At first glance, the plan seems like it would work really well. Destroying just the RNA produced by viruses to get rid of the viral infection sounds like a simple enough plan. But what if there was an infection that was in so many cells that the “cell suicide” caused too much damage for the person to survive? We won’t really know if the drug has any major problems until we start full-scale trials. As far as the theory behind it though, it sounds great. Medical research is so cool!
August 13, 2011
New drug could cure nearly any viral infection
Marley R. -- A team of researchers at MIT have designed a broad drug that could possibly treat multiple viral infections. It targets RNA that has been infected by a virus. The plan was for it to work on every virus, even new outbreaks occurring after the development of the drug. The treatment works by utilizing the proteins that latch onto the double-stranded RNA produced by viruses, and apoptosis (programmed cell suicide when a cell is deemed dangerous). It seeks the dsRNA and latches onto one end. Once it is connected, it sends out a signal to begin apoptosis. The drug will not harm any non-viral cells, as it has a special tag specifically for the viral RNA. It can harmlessly cross cell membranes until it encounters a viral cell that needs to be dealt with. Testing in mice showed no toxicity, so researchers hope to move to larger animals, and eventually clinical trials.
This approach seems pretty feasible. Most things we try against viruses cause eventual resistance on the part of the virus, but I can’t think of any way to develop a resistance against destroying the dsRNA. At first glance, the plan seems like it would work really well. Destroying just the RNA produced by viruses to get rid of the viral infection sounds like a simple enough plan. But what if there was an infection that was in so many cells that the “cell suicide” caused too much damage for the person to survive? We won’t really know if the drug has any major problems until we start full-scale trials. As far as the theory behind it though, it sounds great. Medical research is so cool!
This approach seems pretty feasible. Most things we try against viruses cause eventual resistance on the part of the virus, but I can’t think of any way to develop a resistance against destroying the dsRNA. At first glance, the plan seems like it would work really well. Destroying just the RNA produced by viruses to get rid of the viral infection sounds like a simple enough plan. But what if there was an infection that was in so many cells that the “cell suicide” caused too much damage for the person to survive? We won’t really know if the drug has any major problems until we start full-scale trials. As far as the theory behind it though, it sounds great. Medical research is so cool!
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