HIV Prevention

In Spain, researchers have used a computation method to determine how a particular protein allows HIV to make its rapid progress to maturity. The technology used involves molecular simulation, which allowed the researchers to observe how particles of the virus go from being inert in their original form, to becoming fully infectious particles that then spread throughout the body and weaken the immune system.

HIV virions (a complete and infectious version of the disease) are formed as the result of a protein called protease, which also allows HIV particles to reach the fully mature form required for them to replicate. Protease cuts through a chain of HIV proteins much the way we would use scissors to cut a piece of paper – the proteins that are cut away can then be the basis of a new HIV virion.

The unusual thing is that the protease is itself part of the chain – this means that before cutting up the other proteins, it has to cut itself away from the chain, making this the absolute first step in the maturation of HIV.

This is therefore the stage of the virus that researchers are targeting as the best place to stop HIV, because if the protease never breaks away, the individual particles will never become infectious and the disease will not spread or harm the body in any way.

The supercomputer that is responsible for the simulation uses accelerated graphics processing units, which allows it to operate at ten times the speed of a computer using a normal central processing unit for rendering the same type of data.

Researchers hope that this discovery will signal a change in the whole process of developing new drugs to fight HIV at the protein level. Even at this time, the study has given researchers greater insight into a disease that is the bane of millions across the globe.

At the present time, if a couple wants to avoid a pregnancy and the risk of HIV transmission, but do not wish to be abstinent, the only option is to use a condom during sex. It is the only form of birth control that also protects against disease. But this method is not discreet enough for some. That is why researchers are working on a new method using cloth with little tiny fibers that can release medicine that will be effective and inexpensive. The study findings were just recently published in a medical journal.

To create such tiny fibers, the material must be spun electronically. This is an incredibly effective way to introduce medicine because of the properties of the fibers that are spun in this manner. Antibodies and proteins are difficult to deliver through liquids or tablets, but can be provided by this means.

The FDA has approved the liquid that is being pushed through the electric field to integrate it into the fabric. The resulting cloth has a spandex like quality to it and is capable of stopping sperm from passing through. It can also contain spermicides and other drugs to halt the spread of diseases like HIV.

Researchers also developed a dissolving fabric that can provide several days of protection until it has fully disintegrated. Just like a vaccine may deliver a burst of protection at regular intervals, the same can be done with these fibers to keep the level of medicine high for several days. This material would either be inserted directly into the woman’s body, or it could be used to make other products for application.

While the electronic spinning of fabric is a technology that has existed for quite some time, this is the first time that anyone has tried to use it for this sort of application. It seems to be a way to skirt around the need to purchase, carry, and use condoms. The next step is to see if this is really a viable alternative to condoms.