Scientists make virus-fighting breakthrough

Scientists in Saskatoon say they have determined the structure of a key protein that stops viruses from spreading. Researchers at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron call it an important step toward developing new ways of fighting viral diseases such as influenza, SARS, Hepatitis C, West Nile fever and polio. The research was carried out by teams from Montreal’s McGill University and the Austrian Research Center for Molecular Medicine. They say the discovery will help scientists develop new drugs for combatting a wide-range of immune system disorders. Results of the research were recently in the journal Nature. The Canadian Light Source is Canada’s national centre for synchrotron research located on the University of Saskatchewan campus. It has played host to 2,600 researchers from academic institutions, government, and industry from across Canada and 20 countries. “This discovery of the IFIT protein structure is very rewarding to us at the Canadian Light Source,” Shaun Labiuk, research associate with the Canadian...