David Ho, an expert on HIV treatment and his colleagues of Hong
Kong University claimed Sunday they are making breakthrough in
finding antiviral agents to stop entry of coronavirus, which may be
a new treatment for SARS patients.
At
a press conference held here, Ho introduced the primary study
results of a new approach in the identification of antiviral agents
effective in stopping entry of coronavirus, the probable key cause
of the killer disease of SARS.
Ho, who helped discover the powerful protease inhibitors that were
proved to be key of the HIV "cocktail," said he would not say that
"we switched gears, but we took on an additional load."
"We say SARS virus may be similar with the HIV virus," Ho said.
He
believed it may be easier to find a vaccine that works against SARS
than one for HIV.
Ho
said animal coronaviruses can be neutralized by antibodies much
more easily than HIV, suggesting that a SARS vaccine is going to be
discovered more easily.
(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2003)