Israeli-US Scientists Identify Virus-Busting Genes

(IsraelNN.com) Joint research by Dr. Leonid Brodsky of the Institute of Evolution of the University of Haifa and Dr. Milton Taylor of Indiana University led to the discovery of a mathematical method that can identify which genes in our bodies fight the viruses that attack us. Using the model, Brodsky and Taylor identified 37 genes out of 22,000 possible genes which fight the hepatitis C virus.

"When we know which genes are responsible for fighting the viruses which attack our liver, we will be able to look for the medications which will activate these genes most favorably," said Dr. Brodsky. The team conducted clinical trials on 400 patients at eight different centers in the United States.

The hepatitis C virus, found mostly among patients who have had a blood transfusion or who share needles, attacks the liver and in extreme cases can cause cancer of the liver. At present, only one well known medication, Interferon, is used to treat the virus, and it does not work for all patients. "In the future, we hope to find other medications that will be more effective in activating all of the 37 genes," said Dr. Brodsky, who explained that the mathematical model can be applied further in the fields of medicine, biology and agriculture.