Researchers in Australia report they’ve learned how to alter a protein in HIV to makes it block replication, rather than spread the virus that eventually leads to AIDS.
“What we’ve actually done is taken a normal virus protein that the virus needs to grow, and we’ve changed this protein, so that instead of assisting the virus, it actually impedes virus replication—and does it quite strongly,” said Associate Professor David Harrich of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. “I consider that this is fighting fire with fire.”
The modified proteins can’t cure HIV but, as published in Human Gene Therapy, they have protected normal ones from converting under laboratory conditions.
In theory, they would help keep the HIV at bay, and allow the immune system to function normally. Patients would still be HIV-positive but, says Harrich, “this therapy is potentially a cure for AIDS,”
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The treatment, a form of gene therapy involving the patient’s stem cells, could work after a single session.
It’s something of a runaround on a traditional cure: “You either have to eliminate the virus infection or alternatively you have to eliminate the disease process,” says Harrich. “And that’s what this could do, potentially for a very long time.”
Animal testing is scheduled to start later this year.
Do you think this could be the road to the end of AIDS or just another weapon in the fight? Be heard in the comments section.
Fidelio
What a great development in the fight against AIDS, although it creates more questions than answers: Is there damage to, otherwise, healthy proteins when targeting the HIV-replicating protein? After treatment, can we perform a type of dialysis to expunge the impotent genes? Will the HIV virus have to be detected early enough for this treatment to work? It would be great to have a link to where we can read more. Regardless, any weapon against HIV and AIDS is a step in the right direction, towards its eradication.
Mark
“The modified proteins can’t cure HIV but…”
“this therapy is potentially a cure for AIDS,”
Really? While it is certainly a wonderful breakthrough, there is a massive difference between allowing an HIV positive individual to love symptom free and actually curing the goddamn disease.
GayTampaCowboy
The real question is, will “big pharma” fight behind the scenes to block this treatment!
I want very much to belive that finding a treatment that in essence, blocks a virus from replicating – thus leaving it present yet inert – would be a huge breakthrough. BUt it would also single the end of HAART treatments and billions of dollars of revenue for drug companies. Is it in their interest to see this treatment made mainstream? NO!
My hope is that human need and the idea of “do no harm” trumps drug company profits…but i’m dubious.
1EqualityUSA
GayTampaCowboy, I thought the same thing. Cancer treatments are under this same pharmaceutical suspicion. The Insurance companies may like the idea of symptomless HIV(+) patients needing fewer HAART Tx.
Didn’t an Australian find the cure for ulcers too? The scientist was laughed out of conferences. He drank his own beaker filled with H. pylori and treated his subsequent ulcer with antibiotics. The scientific community stopped laughing at him after that. Way to go Australia.
redcarpet
What happend to that Canadian/Korean company that was touting a regular vaccine developed using traditional vaccine techniques that was going into phase 3 trials with the FDA?
We have been hearing press release after press release for the last 20 years “We have the CURE” “We may have the cure!” “We have a vaccine!” “Just 3 years away!” blah blah blah.
Here is a tip: until you have the pill or injection ready for use, shut the fuck up.
Cam
If this could cause a persons immune system to behave normally inspite of being infected with HIV, watch for the law suits from the makers of the AIDS drugs to keep the FDA from approving this treatment.
David Gervais
redcarpet-
If you mean the story I recall, the vaccine was preventative, but only a low rate (~30%), there was more work to be done to make it more broadly effective.
Notably, its effectiveness, if it works out, is likely to be preventative only, not curative for those already living with HIV.
The research is valuable, (for any treatment) even if it doesn’t work out, because it expands the knowledge base for others to work on.
mariakatrina
Hi, I work in a communication company I want to share my testimony to
the world, my name is maria Katrina, i am from united kingdom in
Belfast north Ireland, I was a stripper in a club I got effected with
HIV due to the nature of my job, In April 15 2013 i was tested
positive to HIV, This is not design to convince you but its just a
personal health experience . I never taught doctor Hakim could ever
get my HIV-AIDS cured with his healing herb spell, i have tried almost
everything but I couldn’t find any solution on my disease, despite all
these happening to me, i always spend a lot to buy a HIV drugs from
hospital and taking some several medications but no relieve, until one
day i was just browsing on the internet when i came across a great
post of !Michelle! who truly said that she was been diagnose with HIV
and was healed that very week through the help of this great powerful
healing spell doctor ,I wonder why he is called the great papa Hakim,
i never knew it was all because of the great and perfect work that he
has been doing that is causing all this. so I quickly contacted him,
and he ask me some few questions and so i did all the things he asked
me to do,He ask me to buy some herbs and which I did for my cure,only
to see that at the very day which he said i will be healed, all the
strength that has left me before rush back and i becomes very strong
and healthy, this disease almost kills my life all because of me, so i
went to hospital to give the final test to the disease and the doctor
said i am HIV negative, i am very amazed and happy about the healing
doctor Hakim gave to me from the ancient part of Africa, you can email
him now for your own healing too on his email:
[email protected]
lisa_thomas
LISA THOMAS.
([email protected])
I’m giving a testimony about Dr.JATTO the great Herbalist, he has the cure
to all manner of diseases, he cured my HIV disease, though I went through
different website I saw different testimonies about different spell casters
and herbalist, I was like: “Many people have the HIV cure why are people
still suffering from it?” I thought of it, then I contact Dr. JATTO via
Email:[email protected], I didn’t believe him
that much, I just wanted to give him a try, he replied my mail and Needed
some Information about me, then I sent them to him, he prepared it (CURE)
and sent it to DHL Courier Service for delivery, he gave my details to the
Courier Office, they told me that 3-4 days I will receive my package, when
it get too me i took the medicine as prescribed by DR.JATTO and I went for
check-up 1 week after finishing the medicine, I was tested HIV negative, if
you are HIV positive do me a favor for you to contact him and I will try my
possible best to make sure you get cured, when you contact him, make sure
you tell him that I referenced you.. contact him via
Email:[email protected]
what-apps:+2349056539383
call:+2349056539383.
REGARDS.
LISA THOMAS.
lisa_thomas
LISA THOMAS.
([email protected])
I’m giving a testimony about Dr.JATTO the great Herbalist, he has the cure
to all manner of diseases, he cured my HIV disease, though I went through
different website I saw different testimonies about different spell casters
and herbalist, I was like: “Many people have the HIV cure why are people
still suffering from it?” I thought of it, then I contact Dr. JATTO via
Email:[email protected], I didn’t believe him
that much, I just wanted to give him a try, he replied my mail and Needed
some Information about me, then I sent them to him, he prepared it (CURE)
and sent it to DHL Courier Service for delivery, he gave my details to the
Courier Office, they told me that 3-4 days I will receive my package, when
it get too me i took the medicine as prescribed by DR.JATTO and I went for
check-up 1 week after finishing the medicine, I was tested HIV negative, if
you are HIV positive do me a favor for you to contact him and I will try my
possible best to make sure you get cured, when you contact him, make sure
you tell him that I referenced you.. contact him via
Email:[email protected]
what-apps:+2349056539383
call:+2349056539383.
REGARDS.
LISA THOMAS..