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Discovery: Beyond The Abyss: Antivirals

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12/12/2011 GMT

Antivirals

Beyond The Abyss

BBC World Service - Discovery, Beyond The Abyss, AntiviralsSearch BBC

Kevin Fong looks at new techniques aiming to cure all viral infections.

Kevin Fong reports on broad spectrum antivirals, new drugs which could one day treat a range of viral disease in much the same way as antibiotics treat many bacterial infections.

An increasing understanding of genetics has uncovered new targets for antiviral drug treatments. 

Although still in the very early stages, scientists say they may be able to develop drug treatments which can be used against a range of viruses. 

At present antiviral drugs are very specific, usually attacking just one virus. 

However the research which Kevin Fong examines in this edition of Discovery suggests 'broad spectrum antivirals', drugs capable of curing all viral infections from the common cold to HIV, may be with us in a few years time. 

Such drugs could revolutionise medicine dealing a blow to viruses in much the same way as the invention of antibiotics did to bacterial infections over the last century.

Discovery: Beyond The Abyss

BBC World Service

Meet the new wave of explorers who are are racing to go back to the deepest place on Earth

After more than 50 years, a new wave of explorers are racing to go back to the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on the planet.

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