A team of South Korean researchers says it discovered that the ribonuclease activity of the SAM domain and HD domain-containing protein 1 (SAMDH1) restricts the replication of HIV-1, which causes AIDS.
 
The team’s research results were published Sunday on the online edition of Nature Medicine, a biomedical research journal.
 
The team led by Seoul National University Professor Ahn Kwang-seog said it made the discovery after breaking down ribonucleic acid, which makes up the genetic material of HIV.
 
The team also found that the density of monomer, which makes up nucleic acid, controls the vitality of SAMHD1 and affects HIV infection.
 
Ahn said efforts to develop a vaccine for HIV ran into difficulties, as the HIV virus mutates at a fast rate. He said the latest discovery will contribute to efforts to develop a new HIV vaccine.