\u00a0The university of Waterloo pharmacy associate professor Emmanuel Ho has developed a novel nanomedicine loaded with genetic material called small interfering RNAs (siRNA) to fight human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using gene therapy. These siRNAs regulate which genes or proteins are turned on or off in our cells and showed a 73 per cent reduction in HIV replication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis opens the door for new therapeutics in the fight against HIV,\u201d said Dr. Ho, who is among Waterloo\u2019s researchers and entrepreneurs leading health innovation in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Autophagy, also known as the body\u2019s recycling process, plays an important role in our body to eliminate microbes such as viruses and bacteria inside cells. HIV is quite smart and produces a protein, Nef, that prevents cells from activating autophagy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the first research to develop a combination nanomedicine that can reactivate autophagy and prevent HIV entry into cells, allowing our body to re-initiate its defence system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, HIV has a gene, CCR5, that allows the virus to enter a cell. The siRNAs target both Nef and CCR5 to reduce HIV infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This nanomedicine is intended to be applied vaginally to protect against sexual transmission of HIV. As a result, the nanomedicine is designed to be stable without leakage of siRNAs in the acidic vaginal environment but release the siRNA once inside cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cViruses are smart. They produce Nef proteins to prevent autophagy from occurring,\u201d Ho said. \u201cOur process allows our body to fight the viral infection without needing additional drugs,\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ho confirms that the next steps include further optimizing the process and improving our understanding of how autophagy plays a role in how our cells protect us from viruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe also hope this will shed some light to develop more alternative approaches to effectively reduce antimicrobial resistance,\u201d Ho said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Editor:msserwanga @gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0The university of Waterloo pharmacy associate professor Emmanuel Ho has developed a novel nanomedicine loaded with genetic material called small<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/th-2.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11231,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/scientists-unveil-new-drug-which-kills-hiv-infected-cells\/","url_meta":{"origin":11526,"position":0},"title":"Scientists Unveil New Drug Which Kills HIV Infected Cells","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 17, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A blood cancer drug could take us one step further to a cure for HIV, scientists say. Venetoclax helps kill \u201csilent\u201d HIV cells and delay reinfections of the deadly virus, Australian researchers found. The hidden, dormant cells cannot currently be treated by any therapy options and are the reason people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/hiv.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4835,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/movit-products-in-fight-against-hiv-aids-among-the-youth\/","url_meta":{"origin":11526,"position":1},"title":"Movit Products in fight against HIV\/AIDS among the youth","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"One of Uganda\u2019s leading\u00a0 cosmetics producer -Movit Products, have launched a nation -wide campaign to stem the spread of the deadly HIV\/Aids pandemic that\u2019s is on the rise again especially among the youth in the age bracket of 15- 24\u00a0 years representing 79% of the national infection rate. Girls are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Movits-Connie-Nankya.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Movits-Connie-Nankya.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Movits-Connie-Nankya.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Movits-Connie-Nankya.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16971,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/kabaka-leads-over-130000-in-2026-run-to-champion-health-end-hiv-by-2030\/","url_meta":{"origin":11526,"position":2},"title":"Kabaka Leads Over 130,000 In 2026 Run To Champion Health, End HIV By 2030","author":"MOSES SSERWANGA","date":"April 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The 2026 edition of the Kabaka Birthday Run has reaffirmed its status as one of Uganda\u2019s most influential public health campaigns, attracting an estimated 130,000 participants in a nationwide show of unity, culture and civic responsibility. Held in honour of the Kabaka of Buganda,\u00a0Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, who marked his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kab.jpeg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kab.jpeg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kab.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kab.jpeg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kab.jpeg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11794,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/speaker-anita-among-meets-bugandas-katikkiro-mayiga-in-mengo-to-fight-hiv-aids\/","url_meta":{"origin":11526,"position":3},"title":"Speaker Anita Among Meets Buganda’s Katikkiro Mayiga In Mengo To Fight HIV\/AIDS","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Speaker Anita Annet Among led a delegation of MPs to Bulange-Mengo and met with Buganda's Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga in a public partnership to support the annual Kabaka Birthday Run, scheduled for April 7, 2024. The proceeds from this event will aid in the fight against HIV\/AIDS in Uganda. Muwanga\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ant-3.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ant-3.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ant-3.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ant-3.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ant-3.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10731,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/world-aids-day-uganda-on-course-to-eliminate-spread-of-hiv-aids\/","url_meta":{"origin":11526,"position":4},"title":"It’S World AIDS Day: Is Uganda On Course To Eliminate Spread Of HIV \/AIDS","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"November 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters As the world prepares to mark World Aids Day ,AIDS-related deaths have fallen by almost 70 per cent since their peak in 2004, and new HIV infections are at the lowest point since the 1980s. But AIDS still takes a life every minute. From connecting people to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AIDS2.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AIDS2.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/AIDS2.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8682,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/kabaka-mutebi-68-birthday-run-set-for-sunday-april-16th-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":11526,"position":5},"title":"KABAKA MUTEBI (68): BIRTHDAY RUN SET FOR \u00a0SUNDAY APRIL 16th 2023","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Buganda Correspondents The\u00a0 Kabaka of Buganda will celebrate his 68th birthday with hundreds of thousands of his subjects and well-wishers during the Kabaka birthday run set for April 16th ,2023.\u00a0 The Kabaka was born on April 13, 1955. The Kabaka birthday run 2023 is intended to raise awareness\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/sports-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/10th-Kabaka-birthday-run-launch-2.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/10th-Kabaka-birthday-run-launch-2.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/10th-Kabaka-birthday-run-launch-2.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/10th-Kabaka-birthday-run-launch-2.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-2ZU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11526"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11527,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11526\/revisions\/11527"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}