Chinese scientists have identified a new protein that restricts HIV infection, a discovery that could pave the way for the development of new drugs against the virus. The protein, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1), which exists in human cells, can inhibit (抑制) the process by which HIV reproduces, according to research published in the science journal Nature Microbiology this month.
However, the study also showed that PSGL-1 can be negatively affected by Vpu-an accessory (附属) protein of HIV-which can neutralize the ability of PSGL-1 to resist HIV. Further research is under way to develop a drug that can inhibit the HIV protein so that PASGL-1 can restrict HIV, according to Tan Xu, a researcher at Tsinghua University's School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, a leading author of the study.
Several other proteins in human cells that could resist HIV have been discovered over the past 10 years, but the virus can also evade (避开) them. PSGL-1 shows particular promise in that it can inhibit the HIV in multiple ways-especially by blocking the infectiousness of virus offspring, Tan said.
“We are starting to research into small molecule (分子) compounds in the hope of finding one that can restore PSGL-1’s anti-HIV function. In this way we can develop a very effective antiviral drug for people with HIV/AIDS,” he said. Tan said it will require at least three to five years for the research to reach the preclinical stage, and more time after that before a clinical trial is possible. The research was conducted by researchers at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Fudan University in Shanghai and George Mason University in the United States.
Existing treatment methods for people with HIV/AIDS, which mostly rely on a combination of different drugs, can prevent the disease from progressing but cannot cure it, and long-term use of drugs can result in drug resistance.
An estimated 37 million people in the world live with HIV, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. The study provides new leads to developing antiviral drugs, Tsinghua University said in a statement.
【小题1】What can we learn about PSGL-1 from the passage?A.Both the protein PSGL-1 and the protein Vpu are HIV proteins. |
B.PSGL-1 can restrict the function of the protein Vpu. |
C.PSGL-1’s molecule compounds have been identified. |
D.The protein PSGL-1 functions better than others in resisting HIV. |
A.The existing treatment for HIV are far from perfect. |
B.It will be a decade before the antiviral drugs is put on the market. |
C.American scientists played a leading role in the research. |
D.HIV/AIDS will no longer be a deadly disease owing to the new discovery. |
A.There is a long way to go before curing HIV. |
B.More people are faced with the threat of HIV. |
C.Chinese scientists are leading the way in curing HIV. |
D.A new protein to resist HIV was confirmed by scientists. |
A.A journal | B.A fiction | C.A magazine | D.A brochure |
Using a headset at home to deliver a low electrical current to the brain can relieve symptoms of depression. The approach, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is effective when used several times a week for half an hour at a time.
Previous trials have shown that the therapy works under medical supervision in a clinic or lab. Now, a randomised trial has demonstrated that a tDCS headset can also reduce depression symptoms when worn at home.
Several forms of electrical brain stimulation may have the potential to treat depression. With tDCS, sponge electrodes are placed on the left and right sides of the forehead, causing a mild current to flow from the left to the right. This makes brain cells on the left side more likely to fire, with some studies suggesting that activity in this region is low in people with depression.
Repeated sessions of stimulation may lead to longer term changes in the brain cells, increasing their activity levels, says team member Cynthia Fu at the University of East London. Affecting activity in this region probably alters activity in multiple areas, she says. “There are probably many brain regions causing depression.”
To see if people can benefit from using such a device at home, the team randomly assigned 174 people with moderate or severe depression to receive either a full session of stimulation from the headset or stimulation from the same device that lasted just a few seconds. People felt their skin aching at the start and end of each session.
While the depression symptoms of both groups improved on a 52-point scale, those who got the real treatment showed the most benefit, by about 9 points compared with 7, a degree of difference that is similar to that seen with antidepressants (抗抑郁药), “We found people liked having it at home,” says Fu. “Participants could build it into their day.”
【小题1】What is the function of the headset?A.Curing depression in patients. | B.Testing the degree of depression. |
C.Adjusting brain’s electrical current. | D.Reducing symptoms of depression. |
A.By making the left-brain cells active. | B.By causing a strong electrical current. |
C.By changing the brain wave’s direction. | D.By stimulating all brain regions repeatedly. |
A.Monitors. | B.Disturbs. | C.Limits. | D.Changes. |
A.They feel relieved to some extent. | B.They remain relaxed in the session. |
C.They use different kinds of headsets. | D.They are bound to rely on the headsets. |
A man with advanced Parkinson’s disease (帕金森氏症) is now able to walk almost normally again thanks to electrodes implanted (电极植入) in his spinal cord (脊椎), researchers said on Monday. The medical first was achieved by Swiss researchers who had previously pioneered similar breakthroughs to help disabled people walk again.
“This could be a game-changing technology to help bring back movement in people with advanced Parkinson’s,” said David Dexter, research director at Parkinson’s UK.
Marc Gauthier, the 62-year-old patient who lives in France, has suffered from the brain disorder for about 30 years. Like more than 90 percent of people with advanced Parkinson’s, Mar c has had great difficulty walking. What are known as “freezing” experiences — during which patients are unable to move for a limited time, putting them at risk of falling — are particularly awful, Marc told AFP.
Much remains unknown about Parkinson’s disease, making treatment difficult. But the disease can seriously affect the lives of patients, sometimes keeping them to bed or a wheelchair. So when the opportunity came to go through an operation in Switzerland, Marc gladly accepted the chance.
“Now I can do whatever I want,” Marc says. “I can go for a walk and go out shopping by myself.” He adds that he can now walk much more easily — he is even planning a trip to Brazil — but it still requires concentration, particularly when climbing upstairs.
The Swiss team, led by surgeon Jocelyne Bloch and neuroscientist Gregoire Courtine , implanted a complex system of electrodes called a “neuroprosthesis (神经假体)” at important points along Marc’s spinal cord. The neuroprosthesis was first tested on animals, and then implanted in Marc, who has used it for roughly eight hours a day over nearly two years.
The Swiss team has expanded their experiment to a group of six Parkinson’s patients, aiming to know how it could help others, given the disease affects people in different ways. However, treatment using the implant could be quite expensive, potentially limiting how many patients would have access.
【小题1】What is David Dexter’s attitude to the Swiss breakthrough?A.Unconcerned. | B.Doubtful. | C.Positive. | D.Unclear. |
A.Volunteer as a tour guide in Brazil. | B.Run to his heart’s content. |
C.Go to the supermarket alone. | D.Make a phone call while climbing the stairs. |
A.It was first tested on Marc Gauthier. | B.It is hardly affordable for ordinary people. |
C.It has been performed on many patients. | D.It was done by researchers in the UK. |
A.A Spinal Implant Allows a Parkinson’s Patient to Walk Again |
B.Parkinson’s Patients Have to Deal With Difficulties in Life |
C.Swiss Experts Have Created a Drug to Treat Parkinson’s |
D.New Technology Prevents People From Developing Parkinson’s |
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