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Every week there are numerous scientific studies published. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting ones. Every week there are numerous scientific studies published. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting ones. Multiple Molecules IDed to Shut Down SARS-CoV-2 Polymerase Reaction Researchers at Columbia Engineering and the University of Wisconsin-Madison identified a library of molecules that can shut down the polymerase reaction in the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. The virus uses polymerase to replicate its genome inside infected human cells. Stopping that polymerase reaction would stop the growth of the virus. Five of the molecules they identified are used for treating other viral infections, including HIV, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B. The research was published in the journal Antiviral Research . “In our efforts to help tackle this global emergency, we are very hopeful that the structural and chemical features of the molecules we identified, in correlation with their inhibitory activity to the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase, can be used as a guide to design and synthesize new compounds for the development of COVID-19 therapeutics,” said Jingyue Ju , Ruben-Peter G. Viele Professor of Engineering at Columbia University. “We are extremely grateful for the generous research support that enabled us to make rapid progress on this project. I am also grateful for the outstanding contributions made by each member of our collaborative research consortium.” In earlier research, they found that the active triphosphate of the hepatitis C drug sofosbuvir ( Gilead Sciences ’ Solvadi) and its derivative could potentially inhibit the polymerase in the virus. They then tested four other nucleotide analogues, the active triphosphate forms of HIV drugs Alovudine, Zidovudine, Tenofovir alafenamide, and Emtricitabine, which all inhibited the virus’s polymerase with different levels of activity. They then analyzed 11 compounds, narrowing them down to six that showed intermediate termination of the polymerase reaction, two that showed delayed termination, and three that did not terminate the polymerase. The prodrugs of the five analogues are Cidofovir, Abacavir, Valganciclovir/Ganciclovir, Stuvadine and Entacavir. COVID-19 Mutations Result in 10-Times Contagiousness Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have found that the strains spreading so quickly in Europe and the U.S. have a mutated S “spike” protein that makes it about 10 times more infectious than the strain that originally was identified in Asia. The research was published online on bioRxiv and has yet to be peer-reviewed. The mutation does not appear to make the virus any more deadly than it already is, but it does appear to make it significantly more contagious. The original strain in China is dubbed D614, while the one found in May in the UK, Italy and North America is dubbed G614. The S “spike” protein is found on the surface of the virus and is used to gain entry to cells, something like a key in a lock. But the original strain, D614, often broke off when it was attempting to bind to ACE2 receptors in people’s airways. The mutated version, G614, is less likely to break off, allowing it to more easily make its way into cells. Microbiome Offers Resistance to Cholera The microbiome is the trillions of microorganisms that live in and on the body. Increasingly, it is found to have an effect on numerous illnesses, not just those of the gastrointestinal tract. Cholera is a potentially deadly disease that causes an extreme type of watery diarrhea. Researchers at UC Riverside identified specific gut bacteria that appear to make people resistant to cholera, which affects as many as 4 million people globally. The bacterium is Blautia obeum , which appears to deactivate the cholera bacterium’s disease-causing mechanisms. Potential Therapy to Regenerate Heart Tissue Researchers at the University of Helsinki , with a State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease at FuWai Hospital in Beijing, investigated a mouse model of artificial myocardial infraction to determine if a tissue-engineered approach would work for stimulating myocardial regeneration. They identified 1,005 proteins from the myocardium, of which 216 were expressed immediately below the atrial appendage micrograft (AAM) patches in a “subtransplant” area in the interventricular septum. This appeared to both preserve the heart’s pumping function and improve functional recovery. SARS-CoV-2 Has Ability to Infect Heart Cells Research out of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has the ability to infect heart cells directly, at least in laboratory tests. Many COVID-19 patients do experience heart problems, which might be related to pre-existing conditions, inflammation, oxygen deprivation, or hyperactive blood clotting. But the study also found that the human stem cell-derived heart cells infected by the virus in culture changed their gene expression profile. This suggests that the cells activate innate cellular defense mechanisms in an attempt to fight the virus. “This viral pandemic is predominantly defined by respiratory symptoms, but there are also cardiac complications, including arrhythmias, heart failure and viral myocarditis,” said Clive Svendsen , co-corresponding and senior author of the study, and director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute and professor of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine. “While this could be the result of massive inflammation in response to the virus, our data suggest that the heart could also be directly affected by the virus in COVID-19.” How COVID-19 Causes Blood Clots One of the many puzzling aspects of COVID-19 is the risk, in some patients, even younger patients, of unusual blood clotting that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Researchers at the University of Utah Health have identified inflammatory proteins produced during a COVID-19 infection that alters the function of platelets, which increases their likelihood of forming blood clots. The research was published in Blood , an American Society of Hematology journal. “Our finding adds an important piece to the jigsaw puzzle that we call COVID-19,” said Robert A. Campbell , senior author of the study and an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah Healthy. “We found that inflammation and systemic changes, due to the infection, are influencing how platelets function, leading them to aggregate faster, which could explain why we are seeing increased numbers of blood clots in COVID patients.” Utilizing differential gene analysis, the scientists found that SARS-CoV-2 seems to trigger genetic changes in platelets. The COVID-19 platelets in laboratory tests aggregated more quickly, and the changes significantly affected how the platelets interacted with the immune system. This contributed to inflammation of the respiratory tract, which caused more severe lung damage. What was also unusual was they did not see the virus in most of the platelets, which suggested the virus was promoting those genetic changes indirectly, possibly by way of inflammation affecting megakaryocytes, which produce platelets. In test-tube studies, at least, aspirin seemed to prevent the hyperactivity. “There are genetic processes that we can target that would prevent platelets from being charged,” Campbell said. “If we can figure out how COVID-19 is interacting with megakaryocytes or platelets, then we might be able to block that interaction and reduce someone’s risk of developing a blood clot.”

Janssen and Gilead Sciences continue to showcase the potential treatment abilities of their respective HIV treatments. This morning the two companies released 96-week data demonstrating their efficacy and safety that was presented during an HIV conference in the United Kingdom. Janssen and Gilead Sciences continue to showcase the potential treatment abilities of their respective HIV treatments. This morning the two companies released 96-week data demonstrating their efficacy and safety that was presented during an HIV conference in the United Kingdom. The news shared by both companies comes less than a month after they both released data showcasing the efficacy of their HIV medications . California-based Gilead announced 96-week results from a Phase III study of its HIV drug Biktarvy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve adults. In the ongoing Phase III study, Gilead said Biktarvy was found to be statistically non-inferior to a triple-combination regimen of dolutegravir and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (50 mg) through 96 weeks of therapy. The new data were presented during a late-breaking abstract session at the 2018 HIV Glasgow conference in Glasgow, Scotland. In the study, treatment-naïve adults were randomized to receive either the Gilead medication or the triple combination. At week 96, non-inferiority was maintained from the primary endpoint measurement at Week 48, with 84.1 percent of patients taking Biktarvy and 86.5 percent taking the triple combination achieving HIV-1 RNA levels less than 50 copies/mL. In the resistance analysis population, none of the study participants randomized to Biktarvy developed treatment-emergent resistance, Gilead said. That follows data released earlier this month that showed 87.9 percent of patients taking Biktarvy showed non-inferiority against 89.8 percent of patients taking a different triple combination medication of abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine. Biktarvy, a once-per-day treatment, was approved by the FDA in February as a complete regimen to treat HIV-1 in adults who haven’t been treated with antiretrovirals or to replace the current antiretroviral regimen in patients who are virologically suppressed on a stable antiretroviral regimen for at least three months. John McHutchison, Gilead’s chief scientific officer, said the latest data continues to demonstrate the efficacy and safety pro Biktarvy. McHutchison added that the data also supports use of the single-tablet regimen in a “broad range of adults living with HIV who are new to HIV therapy.” “Gilead is working to advance access to Biktarvy to appropriate patients around the world as we continue our clinical and research efforts focusing on novel mechanisms of action for next-generation HIV treatments and, ultimately, a cure,” McHutchison said in a statement. Janssen, a division of Johnson & Johnson , also showed off data from its HIV treatment Symtuza at the Scotland conference. Janssen also presented 96-week data that showed positive, long-term efficacy of the medication in treatment-naïve adults with HIV-1. Results from the 96-week study showed that a high proportion of antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve adults with HIV-1, 85 percent, achieved virologic suppression at 96 weeks when treated with Symtuza. Symtuza was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July for HIV-1. Trial data that supported approval of the drug showed that up to 95 percent of participating patients achieved or maintained virologic suppression. The latest data announced in Scotland builds off the data that was used for approval. Richard Nettles, head of medical affairs for Janssen, said the long-term results build on the “growing clinical data set” that continues to provide support for Symtuza as a potential treatment option for HIV-1 patients who are just starting their therapy. “At Janssen, we are building on our 25-year heritage in HIV and remain committed to the research and development of transformational medicines and solutions that span the continuum of HIV care to address real-world clinical challenges, combat HIV drug resistance and meet the diverse needs of those living with HIV,” Nettles said in a statement. Earlier this month, Janssen released data that showed patients who are virologically suppressed and switched to Symtuza, maintained high virologic suppression for up to 96 weeks. Data showed that 91 percent of Symtuza patients were able to maintain that suppression. Only 1 percent of patients experienced low virologic failure at 96 weeks, Janssen reported.