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Breakthrough discovery may lead to new drugs to fight bird flu, other epidemics
News-Medical.net ^
| Monday, 25-Aug-2008
| staff/unattributed
Posted on 08/26/2008 12:13:59 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe
Researchers at Rutgers University and The University of Texas at Austin have reported a discovery that could help scientists develop drugs to fight the much-feared bird flu and other virulent strains of influenza. The researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure of a site on an influenza A virus protein that binds to one of its human protein targets, thereby suppressing a person's natural defenses to the infection and paving the way for the virus to replicate efficiently. This so-called NS1 virus protein is shared by all influenza A viruses isolated from humans - including avian influenza, or bird flu, and the 1918 pandemic influenza virus.
A paper detailing this breakthrough discovery appears...
(Excerpt) Read more at news-medical.net ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: birdflu; h5n1; health
To: 2ndreconmarine; Fitzcarraldo; Covenantor; Mother Abigail; EBH; Dog Gone; ...
2
posted on
08/26/2008 12:14:56 AM PDT
by
Smokin' Joe
(How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
To: Smokin' Joe
3
posted on
08/26/2008 2:02:40 AM PDT
by
RebelTex
(MOLON LABE!)
To: Smokin' Joe
Sweet!
Thanks for posting, bookmarked.
4
posted on
08/26/2008 4:41:28 AM PDT
by
grey_whiskers
(The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
To: Smokin' Joe; yefragetuwrabrumuy; SunkenCiv
5
posted on
08/26/2008 8:44:50 AM PDT
by
LucyT
(What happens in Denver....is anyone's guess....August 25 - 28, 2008)
To: Smokin' Joe
That's progress. When I was in molecular biology classes in the mid-70's, the technique of choice for discovering geometry was purification, crystallization, then X ray crystallography to pick out the geometry. The crystallization part of the task could often take a year or two. My physical chemistry prof was one of the best in the business. The molecular modeling techniques that have grown up with increased computing horsepower have brought forth a shorter path to this information...assuming the models and input data are correct.
6
posted on
08/26/2008 9:57:54 AM PDT
by
Myrddin
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