[procaare] Major breakthrough in controlling AIDS Virus

["ProCAARE" <procaare@healthnet.org>]

Major Strategic Breakthrough In Controling The AIDS Virus 
Made By Montreal Researchers
23 Aug 2006   
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=50180
*********** 

A team of researchers from the Universite de Montreal and the Centre
hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal (CHUM) have announced an important
breakthrough in fighting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For the
first time, scientists have identified a defect in the immune response to
HIV and found a way to correct the flaw. Dr. Rafick-Pierre Sekaly, an
eminent researcher in cell biology, immunology, and virology, has confirmed
the identification of a new therapeutic target (the PD-1 protein) that
restores the function of the T cells whose role is to eliminate cells
infected with the virus. This constitutes a major breakthrough, opening new
prospects for the development of therapeutic strategies for controlling HIV
infection. The research findings appear in today's issue of the journal
Nature Medicine.

Dr. Sekaly explained that "immune system cells made non-functional by HIV
can be identified by the presence of a protein that is significantly
overexpressed when infected by the virus." In fact, high levels of the
protein are associated with a more serious dysfunction. "The most important
discovery made in this study arises from the fact that by stimulating this
protein, we succeeded in preventing the virus from making immune system
cells dysfunctional," he added.

The findings were simultaneously reproduced by two other laboratories - the
labs headed by Dr. Bruce Walker at Harvard and Dr. Richard Koup at the NIH.
"It's a rare occurrence for three teams to work together on attacking a
major problem. Up until now, the virus has been more or less invincible. By
combining our efforts, we found the missing link that may enable us to
defeat the virus," noted Dr. Sekaly. Discussions with partners are also
underway to translate these research findings into clinical trials, which
could start during the coming year.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the Universite de Montreal, the CHUM Research
Centre, Genome Quebec, Genome Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research (CIHR), the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the NIH, and the
Fonds de la recherche en sante du Quebec (FRSQ), Quebec continues to show
great leadership in the life sciences.

Paul L'Archeveque and Martin Godbout, the presidents of Genome Quebec and
Genome Canada respectively, saluted the vision of the research team and the
importance for Quebec and Canada of continuing to invest in genomics
research. "The $14 million invested in this project certainly played a role
in accelerating the researchers' work, and in helping Montreal to remain
competitive on the international scene," noted the agency heads, adding that
Dr. Sekaly's team was the first in the world to present the findings of this
major study.

"The results of Dr. Sekaly's study represent an important step in the
development of a new therapeutic approach in the fight against HIV," said
Dr. Alan Bernstein, CIHR President. "This study is a compelling example of
the excellence of Canadian health researchers and of Canada's contribution
to the world's response to the HIV-AIDS pandemic."

"This important discovery is a powerful example of what can be achieved
through partnership," added Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the
Canada Foundation for Innovation. "Canada is proud to have researchers of
Dr. Sekaly's calibre keeping our country at the forefront of the global
fight against HIV-AIDS."

Dr. Mark Wainberg, Co-Director of the FRSQ-AIDS and infectious diseases
Network and Co-Chair of the 16th World AIDS Conference held in Toronto last
week, congratulated Dr. Sekaly and his team: "This scientific breakthrough
is a giant step in the fight against AIDS. It is particularly interesting to
see that some of the best research teams are working together to stop this
terrible curse."

###

Contact: Sophie Langlois
University of Montreal