8 November 2005
Monash University is working to reduce mother-to-baby transfer of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), by 'switching off' a protein in the placenta.
With more than 19 million women worldwide currently infected with HIV or AIDS, mother-to-child transmission of the virus is rapidly becoming a significant source of new infections, especially in developing countries.
Ms Sreeja Sudhakaran, of the Facility for Anti-infective Drug Development and Innovation in Monash's Victorian College of Pharmacy, said mother-to-baby transmission of HIV (mainly around the time of delivery) occurred in up to 40 per cent of pregnancies unless strategies were used to minimise transfer. "As a result, three million children worldwide carry HIV due to maternal transmission," Ms Sudhakaran said.
Administering antiviral drugs to the mother prior to delivery can decrease the transfer of the virus to the baby. However, the placenta acts as a barrier, restricting transfer of the drugs from the mother to the foetus.
Now, the Monash researchers have discovered that the transfer of antiviral drugs is restricted due to a protein 'pump' in the placental cells that separate the maternal and foetal blood.
Professor Roger Nation, head of the college's Department of Pharmacy Practice, is leading the research team that also includes Dr Craig Rayner and Dr David Kong. "As the drug is moving across the placenta from mother to foetus, this chemical pump -- called P-glycoprotein -- scavenges the drug and pumps it back to the mother's circulation," Professor Nation said.
The team is now investigating how to switch off the P-glycoprotein pump. "If this can be achieved, there is potential to increase the transfer of antiviral drugs to the foetus. More effective drug concentrations may result, and they should further decrease the mother-to-baby transfer of HIV," he said.
The research group also includes collaborators from the Royal Women's Hospital and the Austin Hospital. The study results have just been published in the international journal, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
For more information contact Professor Roger Nation on +61 3 9903 9061 or Ms Robyn Anns, Media Communications, on +613 9905 9317 or 0417 568 781.
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