A U.S.-based genetics research team including a South Korean biologist has made a breakthrough that might hold a key to combatting the AIDS virus.

Thirty-year old Song Ji-joon is the primary author of a research paper published on the Internet site of Science magazine last Thursday.

In the report, Song and his fellow scientists said they had deciphered the structure of a special protein that interferes with the function of R-N-A inside a cell. R-N-A carries the genetic information from D-N-A to the parts of the cell where proteins are made.

Experts say the team's research might eventually be used to develop a cure for AIDS.