Thomas Krey; Copyright: Olaf Malzahn
Thomas Krey; Copyright: Olaf Malzahn - Team including MHH and RESIST researchers has found starting point for therapy of diseases caused by herpes viruses A research team from the University of Lübeck, Hannover Medical School (MHH), CSSB Hamburg and the RESIST Cluster of Excellence has found a possible new starting point for the therapy of diseases triggered by herpes viruses. This can be the case in particular with immunocompromised patients as a result of organ transplants or HIV infections. They have now been able to publish their results in the scientific journal PLOS Biology. They are based on results that were partially obtained at the MHH. The starting point of the research is the icosahedral capsid, a small capsule regularly constructed from viral proteins, in which the DNA genome of the virus is packed for protection against environmental influences. This capsid consists of a solid protein layer and is impenetrable to nucleic acids. It must be passed through a unique portal channel both during the packaging of the genome for the purpose of forming new viruses and during "unpacking", i.e. the release of the genome during infection of a host cell.
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