Last updated 01 February 2010
Groundbreaking research into the structure of an enzyme could lead to better treatments for HIV sufferers, it has been claimed.
Scientists at Imperial College London and Harvard University have grown a crystal that enabled them to determine the structure of the enzyme integrase, which is found in retroviruses such as HIV.
Integrase is responsible for pasting a copy of HIV's genetic code into an infected person's DNA.
While antiretroviral drugs help HIV sufferers by blocking integrase, scientists did not fully understand how this worked and had tried for 20 years to uncover the enzyme's structure.
The latest advance will now enable them to improve their understanding of integrase inhibitor drugs and hopefully improve their effectiveness.
Lead study author Dr Peter Cherepanov described the findings as 'amazing'.
He explained: 'Despite initially painstakingly slow progress and very many failed attempts, we did not give up and our effort was finally rewarded.'
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