Researchers at the MIT Lincoln laboratory have developed a potentially revolutionary cure for viruses. http://www.ll.mit.edu/news/DRACO.html

The technique known as DRACO (for Double-stranded RNA [dsRNA] Activated CaspaseOligomerizer) works by targeting and killing off infected cells while leaving unaffected cells unharmed. DRACO simply differentiates between virus and animal cells because viruses have a longer double stranded RNA (dsRNA).

Initial tests of DRACO have been very successful. DRACO proved effective against all the 15 types of viruses it has been tested on. In tests, DRACO was found to be non-toxic to mice and managed to save mice injected with lethal doses of H1N1 influenza.

The idea for the DRACO technique is thought to have come from plants. Plants use a similar technique to defeat viruses by killing off infected cells. Developer Dr. Rider admittedthat more extensive testing is needed, but added: “DRACO has the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of virtually all viral diseases, including everything from the common cold to Ebola.”