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February 15, 2007
HIV Attacked for Massive Damage
Scientists have discovered a weak spot in the AIDS virus that is susceptible to antibodies which could lead to a vaccine.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health issued a report yesterday Feb. 14th, about a specific protein in HIV that provides the initial "handshake" when making contact with immune cells. The cells are tricked thus giving the virus the opportunity to take over. This specific protein can be neutralized by a protein we all make but immune cells have yet to identify it as a resource to use against HIV. When the virus is positively identified, the correct antibody is applied easily neutralizing the virus.
Although the journal is careful to point out it's not a cure yet, they remain positive about future research which would ultimately lead to a vaccine.
I think it's an amazing prospect that our bodies may already have the weapon to defeat the virus, it just never knew to use it. There are currently 2 other HIV vaccines in human trial so if anything, this new research is another beacon of hope to hold on to.
via yahoo news
Posted by tranism at 11:14 AM | Permalink
Comments
the story is a little bit more complicated than that. b-cells actively mutate their dna to produce antibody molecules, and only a small fraction are ever active, and an even tinier fraction against any particular antigen. even if a b-cell is able to produce the correct antibody, it requires t-cell activation to stay alive. hiv kills off these b-cell-sustaining t-cells. hiv can remain dormant in t-cells for months or years, hiding away from potential attacks. hiv also cloaks itself with host membranes to evade detection, and through its error-prone copying mechanism, is thought to mutate its entire genome twice a day -- thereby generating drug- and antibody-resistant variants. many patients with hiv do produce antibodies against hiv, but are unable to eradicate residual disease for these reasons. antibodies against hiv cannot effectively be generated and expanded until after the infection, therefore the significance of this is probably to prevent infection in the first place -- i.e. to create a vaccine. by now hundreds of groups have tried and failed for various reasons, so only time will tell if this is a viable target.
Posted by: @! at February 18, 2007 7:29 AM
please keep it up!
Posted by: harryson chitapu at February 19, 2007 2:02 AM