http://www.sciencecodex.com/read/new_techniqu...hallenging_proteins-81449

[...] a new technique for identifying molecular structure can [now] be used effectively on small samples of biological proteins, particularly proteins that are targeted for drug development. The technique, an enhanced form of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, could enable the structure of a protein to be identified within hours, rather than weeks or months, radically speeding up the process of drug discovery. [...] [the] method [is] known as dynamic nuclear polarisation (DNP), which boosts the number of nuclei that can be measured through NMR and so increases the signal picked up from the protein. [...]

http://www.sciencecodex.com/read/creation_of_...engineering_efforts-81618

Creation of the largest human-designed protein boosts protein engineering efforts

[...] "We now have the algorithms we need to engineer large proteins with shapes that you don't see in nature. This gives us the tools we need to create new, more effective antibodies and other beneficial proteins," said Jens Meiler, the associate professor of chemistry at Vanderbilt who led the effort. Recently, protein engineers have verified a potential treatment strategy for HIV by using designed protein vaccines in mice and have designed artificial proteins that mimic antibodies in broadly neutralizing flu infections. The technique developed at Vanderbilt promises to expand the scope of these efforts substantially. [...] Over the past 10 years an increasing number of proteins that don't exist in nature have been designed "in silico" (in a computer). Scientists use sophisticated protein modeling software that incorporates the relevant laws of physics and chemistry to find amino acid sequences that fold into stable forms and have specific functions. [...] The newly designed protein contains 242 amino acids. [...] [accomplishing that] by modifying the widely used protein engineering platform called ROSETTA so that it can incorporate symmetry in the design process. Their success provides new support for a controversial theory about protein evolution called the gene duplication and fusion hypothesis. [...] Because they have two identical halves, dimers have a large degree of symmetry. By taking these symmetries into account, the Vanderbilt group was able to substantially reduce the amount of computing time required to create the FLR protein. Using 400 processors of the supercomputer at Vanderbilt's Advanced Computing Center for Research and Education, it took 10 days of continuous processing to find the most stable configuration. To check the accuracy of their design, the researchers synthesized the DNA sequence that produces the protein, inserted it in E.coli bacteria and determined that they produced the protein and it folded properly. The FLR protein assumes a 3-D shape called a TIM barrel, which is found in 10 percent of proteins and is particularly prevalent among enzymes. It is formed from eight beta strands that are surrounded by eight alpha helices arranged in a hexagonal shape like a tiny barrel.

that above link is not working Papa at the moment


HPV increases risk of HIV – study


Women with human papillomavirus (HPV), a precursor to cervical cancer, face a higher risk of HIV infection.

http://vitamind3blog.com/2011/04/vitamin-d-deficiency-hiv-aid/

" Vitamin D3 Blog

Everything you need to know about Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).
Vitamin D Deficiency, HIV and AIDS

A new study conducted by a network of scientists called EuroSIDA found that vitamin D deficiency is extremely common among HIV patients, and that the deficiency is associated with the progression of the disease. While not the first study to show that patients infected with HIV tend to be deficient in vitamin D at a rate well above that of the normal population, the research by the EuroSIDA cooperative went above and beyond existing research in the establishment of a direct relationship between low levels of the nutrient and the overall mortality rate as well as the progression of the disease that can lead to AIDS...

Vitamin D3 can be obtained in three ways: through sunlight, food and supplements. Since food and sunlight fall under the “lifestyle” category, we can effectively dismiss these methods of ingestion, as the HIV patients are already deficient, and rather than expect them to completely change their diet and lifestyle, the safe alternative is to focus exclusively on supplements, as they are the only viable long-term solution. HIV-infected patients should obtain a high-quality, high-potency vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplement. 5,000 IU is a dosage amount that is common among high-potency vitamin D3 supplements. While not an amount officially endorsed by a government or health organization, it is the amount this author would recommend HIV patients start on until they’ve had time to have their blood-levels of vitamin D tested to determine their exact nutritional needs."

Jean Pierre, I just tested all 3 links & they all work. Science Codex is a very popular site & sometimes their database server gets overloaded, but it's only temporary...

http://www.sciencecodex.com/read/scripps_rese...nnovative_chemistry-81828

[...] scientists on the Florida campus of the Scripps Research Institute have created a new class of small molecules with the potential to serve as a rich foundation for drug discovery. Combining the power of synthetic chemistry with some advanced screening technologies, the new approach could eventually expand by millions the number of provocative synthetic compounds available to explore as potential drug candidates. This approach overcomes substantial molecular limitations associated with state-of-the-art approaches in small molecule synthesis and screening, which often serve as the foundation of current drug discovery efforts. [...] In high-throughput screening, diverse collections of molecules are evaluated en masse for potential function in a biological area of interest. In this process, success is critically dependent on the composition of the molecular collections under evaluation. Modern screening centers maintain a relatively static collection of molecules, the majority of which are commercially available materials that have structures unrelated to natural products -- molecules that are appreciated as validated leads for drug development. [...] To expand the compounds available for investigation, the scientists embraced an approach to structural diversity that mimics nature's engine for the discovery of molecules with biological function. This process, termed "oligomerization," is a modular means of assembling structures (akin to the way that letters are used in a sequence to provide words with meaning) where a small collection of monomeric units can deliver a vast collection of oligomeric products of varying length, structure, and function (like the diversity of words presented in a dictionary). Coupling this technique with a synthetic design aimed at generating molecules that boast molecular features inspired by the structures of bioactive natural products (specifically, polyketide-derived natural products, which include erythromycin, FK-506, and epothilone), the scientists established a new chemical platform for the discovery of potential therapeutics. [...] The potential of this vision was highlighted in the new study, in which a 160,000-member compound collection was employed to discover the first non-covalent small molecule ligand to the DNA binding domain of p53 -- an important transcription factor that regulates a variety of genes involved in cell cycle control and cell death.