What can a coral from the reefs of northern Australia do for HIV?

Apparently, it can deliver a protein that might be a new way to prevent the transmission of HIV.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute were screening natural product extracts when they came across the protein samples, called cnidarians (ny-DARE-ee-Ans). The samples came from the NCI’s biological repository, a bank of natural specimens collected from all over the world. These particular proteins had been collected from a coral in a reef off the northern coast of Australia.

After purifying the proteins, the researchers applied them to lab strains of HIV.

The proteins thwart HIV in way researchers have never seen before, blocking the virus at a very early stage without causing it to become resistant to other drugs. The protein works by binding to the virus. Researchers think this keeps the virus from attaching to the membranes of the T cells in the immune system. Binding to T cells is HIV’s first step in transmission.

The proteins are also powerful, and can block HIV at very low concentrations — as low as a billionth of a gram. Because of this, the proteins could be used in sexual lubricants and gels. This would allow both men and women to take measures to prevent STDs.

Next, researchers hope to discover how to produce the protein in larger quantities for further testing. That way, they won’t have to harvest coral to extract the protein. The researchers will examine the drug for side effects and whether it can be used to ward off other viruses.

The specimens at the NCI’s biological repository are available for scientists across the United States to study. The researchers hope their discovery will encourage other scientists to comb the samples for scientific discoveries.