Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are hoping that their latest discovery may help in the fight against HIV infection. Biochemist and virologist Linda Chelico and her team from the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine are learning more about how an ancient “error correction” system in the human genome helps protect the body against HIV.
“Through our research, we are gaining a better understanding of this interaction and how we may be able to harness it to help treat HIV in the future,” Chelico says.
The system is a family of enzymes produced through the action of seven genes called APOBEC3-A, B, C, D, F, G and H. When HIV infects the body, human cells fight back with these enzymes, which scramble the virus DNA and stop it from multiplying.
Unfortunately, HIV hits back with its own chemical weapons that shut down the APOBEC3 enzymes-but not always. Chelico explained that there are seven different variations of the APOBEC3H gene in humans. Chelico and her team studied two variations in particular, known as haplotype II and V. They found that both interfered with HIV, but in markedly different ways. Their findings were recently published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry.
“One of the interesting bits is that APOBEC3H is more resistant to viral suppression than other APOBEC3s,” Chelico says.
The APOBEC3 genes and its products are part of a system that the body evolved to suppress errors introduced by “junk” or “parasitic” DNA, that is, genes that viruses have inserted into the human genome over millennia. As a side effect, the system also attacks active viruses such as HIV.
“It’s the first biochemical characterization of APOBEC3H at this level of detail,” Chelico says.
The knowledge may point to ways of enhancing APOBEC3H performance-a tricky balancing act, since it also has other essential roles, such as protecting against virus-like elements called retrotransposons.
“We have to be careful when designing an inhibitor,” Chelico says. “It can bind the viral protein or bind the human protein, but interfere with function.”
Chelico and her team are now searching the databases for molecules called peptides that might fit the bill. It’s been a slow process.
“We use cell models,” she says. “There’s never been a hit good enough to progress into animal models. But we’re trying an approach that hasn’t been done before.”
Funding for the research was provided through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Source: University of Saskatchewan
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.