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Study Shows Cells Have a Natural Defense Against HIV
STUDY SHOWS CELLS HAVE A NATURAL DEFENSE AGAINST HIV -- Scientists at OSU have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that cells use to fight off the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS. Their findings indicate that two proteins that normally help repair cellular DNA can also destroy the DNA made by HIV after it enters a human cell. This HIV DNA is essential for the virus to survive and reproduce. The study, led by researchers at the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James), was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The findings could lead to a new strategy for treating HIV infection and AIDS, one that might complement current therapies and would probably be less susceptible to viral drug resistance -- an increasingly urgent dilemma for patients and doctors. The principal investigator of this study is Richard Fishel, PhD, professor of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and a member of the OSU CCC's Molecular Biology and Cancer Genetics Program.
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