HIV Prevention
HIV Defense from Cow Milk
12 years ago
by ADMIN
in HIV Prevention
Cow’s milk gets a bad rep today between lactose intolerance, allergies, and concerns over antibiotics given to the cows themselves. The fact is it still has a lot of nutrients for those who can stomach it, such as vitamin D and calcium. But scientists at Melbourne University in Australia have done something to make cow’s milk extra special. Researchers worked along with Immuron, Ltd. (an Australian biotechnology company) to give pregnant cows an HIV protein as a vaccination. The result: After giving birth, the cow’s milk initially contained antibodies that counteracted HIV.
But cows can’t even get HIV, right? While that is true, their bodies still produce antibodies to defend against the foreign protein, and these are then passed to the baby through milk right after birth. The colostrom (first milk) of a cow has been known to transmit necessary antibodies to keep calves from infection, and it has proved to be so in the case of HIV as well.
What was done with the milk in lab research? When tested, the antibodies combined with the HIV disease and counteracted its ability to enter human cells.
The research team is planning to use this discovery to develop a cream to prevent the spread of HIV. The idea would be for a woman to spread the cream on her vagina either before or immediately after sex (both for those who believe in ‘better safe than sorry’). Then, even if the partner was infected, the antibodies in the cream would prevent the HIV from being able to enter the woman’s cells. This isn’t the first company to come up with the idea of a microbicide to fight HIV infection. The hype is over the fact that this should be a cheaper and easier way to do it.
Of course, this is still a little ways off since first there will be animal testing and then human testing before the product can be marketed.
Fooling the Immune System Into Producing an HIV Vaccine
12 years ago
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation are funding research being done at Ruhr-Universität Bochum by researchers being led by Dr. Klaus Überla. The funding comes to the sweet tune of 2.3 million dollars over the course of the next 3 years. What research is worth sinking those kinds of funds into? Research is being done to try and find an HIV vaccination.
The STEP study, performed a few years back, actually resulted in a greater susceptibility to HIV. Studies like that may have seemed to set back the process of developing a vaccine; however, Überla believes that it is important to build on such studies, see why they had the negative effect that they did, and use that information to find the correct solution. In vivo testing is the next step for the vaccine being developed by this new team of researchers.
There are already studies that show that adding a particular protein to the right point on the shell of the virus can prevent it from entering human cells. The CD4 T helper cells are vital in the production of such antibodies. They are responsible for signaling other cells, when they recognize a disease, to begin making the correct antibodies. The problem is that these cells are where HIV grows the faster. Therefore, when CD4 cells begin to multiply to create antibodies, the HIV advances more quickly.
Now researchers are hoping to fool the T cells in fighting HIV without also helping it. Rather than using T cells designed specifically for HIV, which consequently also spread the disease more quickly, they are hoping to use T cells that are made for other pathogens. The result would be an attack on HIV from the T cells, without the spread of the disease via HIV specific T cells. Researchers hope this will lead to immunization for HIV in the future.
Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” presents opportunities for increased HIV prevention in U.S. Military
12 years ago
by ADMIN
in HIV Prevention
With the repeal of the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy comes significant opportunities for improvement upon HIV prevention and treatment programs already in place. DADT repeal provides those enlisted in the military with the opportunity to be honest and open with their health care providers about their sexual habits and orientation, giving the military a much clearer picture of their soldiers’ lives and needs, and how to most effectively approach prevention and treatment of HIV.
A study in the October 1 issue of JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, led by Shilpa Hakre, DrPH, MPH, of the US Military HIV Research Program, indicates that, out of 64 U.S. Navy and Marines personnel who were identified by the Navy Bloodborne Infection Management Center as having contracted HIV while the DADT policy was in effect, 84% of respondents reported same-sex contact as one of the risk factors that contributed to infection. Of that 84%, most also reported inconsistent condom use (especially during anal sex), contact with “new, casual, or temporary” partners, and alcohol use as contributing factors to their infection. Other common risky behaviors included meeting anonymous partners in bars and clubs, as well as on the internet, and gross underestimation of personal risk of acquiring HIV during unprotected sexual contact due to the fact that those infected knew or trusted their partner and his or her HIV status, which greatly contributed to infrequent use of condoms.
Prior to the repeal of DADT, some members of the U.S. military would seek medical care for HIV and AIDS outside of the military due to their concerns about being stigmatized or discharged for revealing their homosexual orientation, resulting in the impedance of military prevention and treatment efforts, and significant underreporting of new HIV infections.
New studies within the U.S. military reveal a significantly higher rate of male-to-male sexual contact among enlisted servicemen than previously reported, most likely a result of “liberalized responses due to DADT repeal effects”, according to researchers. This increase in transparency helps to clarify the factors that put military personnel at risk of HIV infection. Repeal of DADT also allows for more open and effective targeting of prevention efforts, and brings to light opportunities for these efforts, such as the promotion of proper condom use. Dr. Hakre and co-authors conclude, “DADT repeal may afford opportunities for facilitating necessary primary HIV prevention strategies such as those targeting condom use and newer social outlets such as internet networking.”
Promising Results from UCLA AIDS Institute Trial of Anti-HIV Gel
13 years ago
Medical News Today reported this week that a recent study conducted by the UCLA AIDS Institute indicated an anti-HIV topical gel could be effective in substantially reducing the risk of infection in tissue exposed to HIV.
While this early clinical trial’s primary purpose was to test the safety of the drug—a topically applied gel containing a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor—the study’s lead author, Dr. Peter Anton, indicated that he was pleased that the study had indirectly pointed to the drug’s potential effectiveness in reducing the risk of HIV infection in real patients.
