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Regina Bailey

Regina's Biology Blog

By Regina Bailey, About.com Guide to Biology

Tick Fights HIV

Saturday February 23, 2008
Researchers have discovered that a protein found in deer tick saliva may help fight HIV.

When a person is under attack from bacteria or viruses, his or her immune system takes charge to fight the invaders.

Specific cells called T-cells are actively involved with the search for and destruction of the invaders. The HIV-1 virus however, attaches to and destroys T-cells.

The researchers in the study found that the protein, Salp15, binds to T-cells preventing HIV-1 from being able to attach to them.

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