Accidental Discovery Could Lead to Cure for AIDS Virus

sydlexius writes "A press release from Sandia tells of the discovery of niobium HPA, a chemical that bonds to viruses. Many scientists have been interested in the properties of various HPAs (heteropolyanions), however this is the first such case that is stable in basic and neutral solutions. The Albuquerque Tribune covers the story here. For subscribers of Science Magazine, you can find an article in this month's issue (Abstract)."

Comments

A brilliant example of the value of pure research

[Myco]

This is the kind of thing that happens when scientists are allowed and encouraged to explore above and beyond simple applications. The substance discovered was the result of an impurity, and caused some clogging problems in the filter it was forming in. Read what the article says about the discovery:

"Identifying the problem concluded her task, but scientific curiosity led her to attempt to create the compound as an independent entity. "I was curious to see if I could synthesis it pure, rather than leave it merely as a discovered impurity," says Nyman."

Intellectual curiosity was the key here, more than dumb luck.

Sounds promising

[Anonymous Coward]

What sort of affinity does this stuff have with cell walls, DNA, and so on? If it clung to viruses and was completely inert to the body, it would be a revolution in medicine. No more viruses.

But we never get a free ride. The stuff will clog the arteries or something. Otherwise it will be sufficiently inert that it is used liberally, everywhere, and then it will turn out that viruses played a subtle role in all living systems. Of course that discovery would occur once the virus balance has been terminally offset.