When viruses evolve, drugs made to kill them can become powerless. However, scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College have figured out how attract viruses with artificial cells…and use them to deactivate deadly viruses.

In the lab, two emerging henipaviruses didn’t stand a chance. Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Weill Cornell Medical College reported the results in a paper published in PLOS One.

The fake cells are called honey pot protocells. The honey pot cells were built with silica material and shaped like a regular cell, all part of the elaborate system designed to trick the viruses to come near. NIST materials scientist David LaVan said in a statement:

“The lure, the irresistibly sweet bait that you can use to capture something.”

As it turns out, the artificial cells were pretty amazing decoys. In experiments, the artificial cells got rid of the active viruses.

The researchers think the artificial cells will help them understand viruses better (and understand how viruses attack cells).

But eventually, the scientists hope the artificial cells could be used to develop an entirely new class of antiviral drugs. The honey pots go after the infection method (not the viruses), so the new drugs wouldn’t have the same drug-resistant problems drugs currently on the market might have.

source: smart planet