| HOME >> BIOLOGY >> TECHNOLOGY |
For the first time, researchers have developed a 3D picture of a herpes virus protein interacting with a key part of the human cellular machinery, enhancing our understanding of how it hijacks human cells to spread infection and opening up new possibilities for stepping in to prevent or treat infection. This discovery uncovers one of the many tactical manoeuvres employed by the virus.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-funded team, led by The University of Manchester, have used NMR - a technique related to the one used in MRI body scanners and capable of visualising molecules at the smallest scales to produce images of a herpes virus protein interacting with a mouse cellular protein. These images were then used to develop a 3D model of this herpes virus protein interacting with human protein. The research is published this evening (06 January) in PLoS Pathogens.
Lead researcher Dr Alexander Golovanov from Manchester's Interdisciplinary Biocentre and Faculty of Life Sciences said "There are quite a few types of herpes viruses that cause problems as mild as cold sores through to some quite serious illnesses, such as shingles or even cancer. Viruses cannot survive or replicate on their own they need the resources and apparatus within a human cell to do so. To prevent or treat diseases caused by viruses we need to know as much as possible about how they do this so that we can spot weak points or take out key tactical manoeuvres."
The 3D model shows how the viral protein piggybacks onto the molecular machinery components inside human cells, promoting virus replication and spread of infection through the body.
"When you look at the image, it's like a backpack on an elephant: the small compact fragment of viral protein fits nicely on the back of the human protein," said Dr Golovanov.
By studying the images along with biochemical experiments using the human version of the cellular
'/>"/>
| Contact: Nancy Mendoza press.office@bbsrc.ac.uk 44-179-341-3355 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology technology :
1. Thomson Reuters and ChemAxon Partner to Help Speed Drug Discovery for Life Science Researchers
2. Strange new twist: Berkeley researchers discover Möbius symmetry in metamaterials
3. Rice researchers take molecules temperature
4. Researchers create new high-performance fiber
5. Dutch royal honors for Manchester researchers
6. Virtual reality helps researchers track how brain responds to surroundings
7. Elsevier Releases Image Search; New SciVerse ScienceDirect Feature Enables Researchers to Quickly Find Reliable Visual Content
8. LSU researchers awarded 1 of the largest NSF grants in Louisiana history
9. Researchers find Goldilocks of DNA self-assembly
10. Plague researchers race to beat bioterrorists
11. Microsoft Research Makes Microsoft Biology Foundation and MODISAzure-Based Environmental Service Available to Scientists and Researchers
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |