http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/20/shark-produced-steroid-shows-promise-for-fighting-human-viruses/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/20/shark-produced-steroid-shows-promise-for-fighting-human-viruses/#comment-29447 Herne Webber Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:23:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=31868#comment-29447 I have a solution to the problems listed about squalamine not have broad enough cellular coverage (types), and inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Give the subject a precursor, or even two precursors and a binding enzyme together, which *inside every cell* would make squalamine. This is similar to what is done with acyclovir, which is only active in virally infected cells that make a particular kinase. All cells absorb this potentially lethal faux Guanosine, but only the ones with that viral kinase get the precursor turned into the lethal pro-DNA imposter. This mechanism should work, and can be keyed to some ensyme present more in cells that become infected with certain specific viruses, such that different cell lines would be protected from different, specific viruses. I have a solution to the problems listed about squalamine not have broad enough cellular coverage (types), and inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Give the subject a precursor, or even two precursors and a binding enzyme together, which *inside every cell* would make squalamine. This is similar to what is done with acyclovir, which is only active in virally infected cells that make a particular kinase. All cells absorb this potentially lethal faux Guanosine, but only the ones with that viral kinase get the precursor turned into the lethal pro-DNA imposter. This mechanism should work, and can be keyed to some ensyme present more in cells that become infected with certain specific viruses, such that different cell lines would be protected from different, specific viruses.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/20/shark-produced-steroid-shows-promise-for-fighting-human-viruses/#comment-29446 sarah Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:32:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=31868#comment-29446 As exciting as this relatively new scientific discovery is... does this mean more sharks will to have to suffer and die simply for humans benefit? First it's the multi-billion shark fin industry, the millions of sharks caught as by-catch and now an undetermined amount of sharks are being used to save and protect the lives of species that in return ultimately kills an estimated 100 million sharks annually? As exciting as this relatively new scientific discovery is… does this mean more sharks will to have to suffer and die simply for humans benefit? First it’s the multi-billion shark fin industry, the millions of sharks caught as by-catch and now an undetermined amount of sharks are being used to save and protect the lives of species that in return ultimately kills an estimated 100 million sharks annually?

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/09/20/shark-produced-steroid-shows-promise-for-fighting-human-viruses/#comment-29445 JCW Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:21:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=31868#comment-29445 Squalamine has been synthesized in the lab since 1995. None of the chemicals tested in the lab came from the shark itself, they are man-made. Squalamine has been synthesized in the lab since 1995. None of the chemicals tested in the lab came from the shark itself, they are man-made.

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