Peer-Reviewed Journal Publishes Findings By Viral Genetics' Lead Scientist

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Genetics;  HIV / AIDS;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 29 Jul 2010 - 0:00 PDT

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Research co-authored by Viral Genetics, Inc., (Pink Sheets: VRAL) lead scientist Dr. M. Karen Newell has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Leukocyte Biology (JLB). Newell's article identifies a potential mechanism that promotes chronic inflammation, a characteristic of most autoimmune diseases. Viral Genetics has been pursing treatments for Lyme Disease and HIV/AIDS. Articles published in the JLB undergo rigorous screening to ensure proof of concept as well as high research standards.

"The research presented in this article demonstrates what we believe is the mechanism behind our treatments," said Viral Genetics CEO Haig Keledjian. "We now have a panel of scientists validating the results we've produced and reproduced in the lab. This article is the first in a series that Newell will be submitting to a variety of publications for review."

The body responds to invading, infectious agents by producing an innate, acute immune response. Once the invading agent has been identified, that initial general response should shift to a specific immune response to fight the invading microbe. In the article, Newell describes how cells can be triggered to release a small protein known as "CLIP" that may promote inflammation. CLIP likely works like a shield, protecting cells with that protein from being killed by other immune cells, and if not eventually replaced, causing chronic inflammation-a symptom of many autoimmune diseases. An individual's genetic make-up may determine who is susceptible to developing cells that won't release the CLIP protein when inflammation is no longer needed as part of the immune response.

According to Newell, "In this article, we demonstrate that a synthetic peptide designed on the basis of its "fit" with the products of immune response genes, can interfere with, and dampen, inflammation associated with some immune conditions. The peptide used in the JLB study is distinct from Viral Genetics' original peptide solution, however, the newly proposed mechanism potentially explains the results of earlier clinical trials with different Viral peptides,"

The research piece is online here. The piece also will run in the print publication.

Viral Genetics' research team has been testing synthetic peptides that are designed to replace the CLIP and make the cells susceptible to the body's natural immune response. A 2006 human clinical trial found that Viral Genetics' original AIDS compound reduced the viral load in approximately 30% of the AIDS patients in the study. Since then, the team has been performing studies aimed at refining the drug to make it more effective in a larger percent of the affected population. In recent months, Viral Genetics began building an internal team capable of managing the FDA drug approval process.

Written for leukocyte biologists, the JLB has a journal impact factor of 4.605 by the scale of the I.S.I., reflecting the number of times JLB articles are cited by other sources during a specific timeframe. JLB publishes articles on original investigations about the origins, developmental biology, biochemistry and functions of granulocytes, lymphocytes, mononuclear phagocytes and other cells involved in host defense. Newell's co-authors on the article include: R.P. Tobin, J.H. Cabrera, M.B. Sorensen, A. Huckstep, E.M. Villalobos-Menuey, M. Burnett, E. McCrea, C.P. Harvey, A. Buddiga, A. Bar-Or, M.S. Freedman, J. Nalbantoglu, N. Arbour, S.S. Zamvil, and J.P. Antel.

Source:
Viral Genetics, Inc.

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