Protein Block May Aid in AIDS Fight

Researchers say they have found a way to genetically prevent the formation of a key protein that allows the AIDS virus to infect some cells, offering promise for a radically new treatment. Recent studies have shown that the HIV virus must link with specific proteins on the surface of cells before it can infect the cell. Scientists at the Naval Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Md., announced that in experiments they are now able to prevent T-cells, the primary HIV target, from making the protein CCR5. This prevents the virus from infecting the T-cells, a researcher said.