Siberian mushroom could hold AIDS cure

Certain mushrooms found in parts of Siberia could help treat the deadly AIDS disease, Russian scientists say.
Researchers at Siberia's Vector research institute said that a certain mushroom - the Chaga - could not only hold strong medicinal purposes, but also fight against viruses like smallpox, influenza and even Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The Chaga fungi grows on birch trees in the northern stretches of Russia.
According to the Wall Street Journal's Emerging Europe blog, scientists at Vector said that there are no solid tests linking the mushroom with combating HIV.
However, the betulinic acid in the fungus is thought to be very toxic to cancers and other viruses, the 'New York Daily News' reported.

The researchers intend to use the mushrooms to produce medicines.
"It's a promising line of development," the institute said.