Nanoparticles smaller than HIV were infused with the bee venom toxin, explains U.S. News & World Report. A protective bumper was added to the nanoparticles surface, allowing it to bounce off normal cells and leave them intact. Normal cells are larger than HIV, so the nanoparticles target HIV, which is so small it fits between the bumpers. “Melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral envelope,” said research instructor Joshua L. Hood, MD, PhD, via the news release. “The melittin forms little pore-like attack complexes and ruptures the envelope, stripping it off the virus.” Adding, “We are attacking an inherent physical property of HIV. Theoretically, there isn’t any way for the virus to adapt to that. The virus has to have a protective coat, a double-layered membrane that covers the virus.” huffingtonpost/2013/03/09/bee-venom-kills-hiv-cells_n_2843743.html
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:29:16 +0000
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