Honey Pot Protocells

The article this current even is based on can be found here.

Artificial cells received a near 100 percent success rate at deactivating experimental versions of Nipah and Hendra viruses. These henipaviruses can cause fatal encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, in humans. Henipaviruses, like parainfluenza, mumps and measles, are a part of a called 'enveloped viruses'. Enveloped viruses are surrounded by a two layer lipid membrane, much like that found in the enclosing of animal cells. A pair of proteins embedded in this membrane act to infect host cells. The proteins work together to pull the virus into the cell, and infect it; however, this can only be done once. The protocells are loaded with a protein called Ephrin-B2, this is the target of henipaviruses. They use these cells like decoys, and even cleared out a test solution of active viruses during a controlled experiment. In the long run, scientists say that these protocells could eventually become a sort of antiviral drug.


I find it very intriguing that there could possibly be a new line of antiviral drugs. The success rate of these protocells is astounding, and is no doubt another step in biological research and the medical field. I hope that more protocells such as these can be created and used to work with other forms of viruses. I'm hoping from this there will come more development and new discoveries in the world of science.

-Brittany Graham
5th/6th