Enzymes that can block HIV reactivation
Enzymes that can block HIV reactivation
Bangalore Mirror Bureau / Updated: Apr 2, 2021, 06:00 IST
Researchers at the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed artificial enzymes that can successfully block reactivation and replication of the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (
cells.
According to IISc made from vanadium pentoxide nanosheets, these
nanozymes work by mimicking a natural enzyme called glutathione peroxidase that helps reduce oxidative stress levels in the host’s cells, which is required to keep the virus in check. “The advantage is that the nanozymes are stable inside biological systems and do not mediate any unwanted reactions inside the cells. They are also quite easy to prepare in the lab,” said Govindasamy Mugesh, Professor at the Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry.