Rice against HIV: a three-protein cocktail produced in seeds shows potent HIV neutralization in vitro
Researchers from University of Lleida-Agrotecnio, IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute and ICREA obtained for the first time three different anti-HIV proteins from a single transgenic rice plant and crude extracts from it averted HIV from entering in human cells in vitro. Rice components showed an enhancing effect, further helping to block HIV infectivity. Dr Julià Blanco, researcher from the Institut Germans Trias i Pujol at IrsiCaixa, where he leads the Cell Virology and Immunology group, participated in the study.