It's been more than 25 years since scientists discovered HIV,

It's been more than 25 years since scientists discovered HIV, the retrovirus responsible for causing AIDS. Since then, there have been advances in treatment that help slow the spread of the virus, promising leads toward stopping it entirely, but still no cure. Now, out of Loyola University, a potential breakthrough: Researchers have figured out the "key components" of TRIM5-alpha, a natural protein that "gangs up" and destroys the virus in rhesus monkeys.

"The finding could lead to new TRIM5a-based treatments that would knock out HIV in humans," senior researcher Edward M. Campbell, PhD, of Loyola University Health System said in a press release.

The results of the research are described in full in the Sept. 15 issue of Virology and have also been posted online. (Subscription required.) Six years ago, researchers at Harvard first identified the protective power of TRIM5a in monkeys, noting that it is 87 percent identical to a variant of the protein found in humans.

Unfortunately, our version doesn't yet stop HIV, but thanks to a $225,000 microscope and the wisdom of Yogi Berra (whose saying "You can see a lot just by looking" allegedly inspired the team), researchers at Loyola now think they know why this is: Just six individual amino acids -- the building blocks of protein -- differ between humans and the rhesus monkey cells.

"By continuing to narrow their search, researchers hope to identify an amino acid, or combination of amino acids, that enable TRIM5a to destroy HIV. Once these critical amino acids are identified, it might be possible to genetically engineer TRIM5a to make it more effective in humans. [Emphasis added] Moreover, a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of action might enable the development of drugs that mimic TRIM5a action."