Friday, 4th August 2006 (4843 views)

A team of researchers and scientists in South Africa has enjoyed success in its bid to find treatments for HIV that make use of gold.

State-owned researcher Mintek has formed a joint venture with gold mining firm Harmony called AuTEK Biomed, with the aim of looking into biomedical applications for gold.

The Biomed project is part of a wider collaboration that also includes gold firms AngloGold Ashanti and Gold Fields, which is investigating the role of gold in many technological fields.

AuTEK Biomed, composed of biochemists and other researchers, has been designing synthetic compounds that can help fight against HIV and that contain gold, Mining Weekly reports. The project began last year and so far 33 compounds have been screened for anti-HIV activity.

The group has also been researching gold as a means of chemical synthesis and biological testing of malaria. Various compounds created in 2005 have undergone malarial screening and one was found to have antimalarial activity.

As part of its social commitment, Harmony Gold ensures that it provides treatment and care for those employees who are suffering from HIV or related illnesses.

 

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