A potent AIDS-fighting protein naturally found in tears,
saliva and in the urine of pregnant women could help make
treatments for AIDS and HIV more effective.
Scientists at New York University School of Medicine in New
York City have identified a protein called lysozyme that
breaks down the AIDS virus. Lysozyme also breaks down the
cell walls of bacteria.
Researchers suspect lysozyme works with another anti-AIDS
protein found in urine, called ribonucleases, to break down
the genetic material of the AIDS virus and prevent the
virus from replicating.
"These proteins are very promising anti-AIDS agents and
likely will be well-tolerated by the body, causing few side
effects, because they occur naturally," says researcher
Sylvia Lee-Huang.
These new findings may help explain why AIDS cannot be
transmitted through saliva, researchers report in the March
16 issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences.
Researchers also tested lysozymes found in mothers' breast
milk, white blood cells and chicken egg white and found
that they all show powerful anti-AIDS activity. They also
tested ribonuclease from the pancreases of cows, which also
appeared to have anti-AIDS properties.