Possible Cure For Hiv?

[timwakefield 68]

LOYOLA RESEARCHERS ZERO IN ON PROTEIN THAT DESTROYS HIVMAYWOOD, Ill. -- Using a $225,000 microscope, researchers have identified the key components of a protein called TRIM5a that destroys HIV in rhesus monkeys.The finding could lead to new TRIM5a-based treatments that would knock out HIV in humans, said senior researcher Edward M. Campbell, PhD, of Loyola University Health System.Campbell and colleagues report their findings in an article featured on the cover of the Sept. 15, 2010 issue of the journal Virology, now available online.In 2004, other researchers reported that TRIM5a protects rhesus monkeys from HIV. The TRIM5a protein first latches on to a HIV virus, then other TRIM5a proteins gang up and destroy the virus.Humans also have TRIM5a, but while the human version of TRIM5a protects against some viruses, it does not protect against HIV.Researchers hope to turn TRIM5a into an effective therapeutic agent. But first they need to identify the components in TRIM5a that enable the protein to destroy viruses. “Scientists have been trying to develop antiviral therapies for only about 75 years," Campbell said. "Evolution has been playing this game for millions of years, and it has identified a point of intervention that we still know very little about."TRIM5a consists of nearly 500 amino acid subunits. Loyola researchers have identified six 6 individual amino acids, located in a previously little-studied region of the TRIM5a protein, that are critical in the ability of the protein to inhibit viral infection. When these amino acids were altered in human cells, TRIM5a lost its ability to block HIV-1 infection. (The research was done on cell cultures; no rhesus monkeys were used in the study.)By continuing to narrow their search, researchers hope to identify an amino acid, or combination of amino acids, that enable TRIM5a to destroy HIV. Once these critical amino acids are identified, it might be possible to genetically engineer TRIM5a to make it more effective in humans. Moreover, a better understanding of the underlying mechanism of action might enable the development of drugs that mimic TRIM5a action, Campbell said.In their research, scientists used Loyola's wide-field "deconvolution" microscope to observe how the amino acids they identified altered the behavior of TRIM5a. They attached fluorescent proteins to TRIM5a to, in effect, make it glow. In current studies, researchers are fluorescently labeling individual HIV viruses and measuring the microscopic interactions between HIV and TRIM5a."The motto of our lab is one of Yogi Berra's sayings -- 'You can see a lot just by looking,'" Campbell said.Campbell is an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. His co-authors are Jaya Sastri, a Stritch graduate student and first author; Christopher O'Connor, a former post-doctorate researcher at Stritch; Cindy Danielson and Michael McRaven of Northwestrn University Feinberg School of Medicine and Patricio Perez and Felipe Diaz-Griffero of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.The study was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

http://www.loyolamedicine.org/News/News_Re...se_id=973441241http://www.kurzweilai.net/protein-that-des...-hiv-discoveredIt angers me that American news outlets have, from what I can tell, paid absolutely zero attention to this story, instead focusing their energy on a stupid fucking mosque. One mosque, out of a zillion. Shut up already.'Oh they cured AIDS? Yeah we'll scroll that on the bottom of the screen while we hear from another random imbecile giving their uninformed and likely-racist theories on some goddam mosque. Now that's reporting!'

[timwakefield 68]

Also an unrelated and possibly alternative cure. TWO HIV cures and nobody cares!!!

August 25, 2010 (WLS) -- Drugs used to treat cancer may actually help to fight off HIV infections.Researchers at the University of minnesota Have found a way to treat the virus using cancer drugs already on the market.In the lab, Decitabine and Gemcitabine appear to force the virus to mutate and kill itself. The drugs have already been approved by the FDA, so they could more quickly be developed into anti-HIV drugs."In combination, at concentrations or at doses much lower than what's used for cancer chemotherapy, these things work in our models very, very well," said Steve Patterson, University of Minnesota researcher.More research needs to be done, including clinical trials in humans.Researchers also hope to put the drugs in pill form. Right now, they're only given through an IV.

That's it, that's all ABC has for us on a potential cure for HIV.

[speedz99 145]

It angers me that American news outlets have, from what I can tell, paid absolutely zero attention to this story.

Curing HIV just isn't fashionable anymore, now that it can be lived with (well, except by poor people). Also, it's not official yet...the stories include the words "could" and "may".

[Pot Odds RAC 23]

'Oh they cured AIDS?'

Ummm... no, they haven't actually.But hey, stay angry if that gets you off or something to completely overstate the story and make inferences to other things in society.

[timwakefield 68]

completely overstate the story

Oh really? Scientists have previously isolated a protein which destroys HIV? Does the title of my thread not say Possible cure for HIV, with a question mark?My "Oh they cured AIDS" was obviously sarcastic. Also, me being angry at the over-coverage of the Ground Zero Terror Mosque! is probably more rational than people being angry at the existence of the mosque itself.

[GeneralGeeWhiz 0]

Curing HIV just isn't fashionable anymore, now that it can be lived with (well, except by poor people). Also, it's not official yet...the stories include the words "could" and "may".

ive read on multiple sites that HIV Cocktails can actually be very bad for you, so i hope this may be a cure. i've lost a friend to AIDS, it's terrible.

[speedz99 145]

ive read on multiple sites that HIV Cocktails can actually be very bad for you, so i hope this may be a cure.

Well I think it's safe to assume that a series of drugs that affect the immune system would have some serious side effects. I was just commenting on the fact that HIV/AIDS isn't the sure killer that it was back in the day when a possible cure would have been headline news for days. Plus, you know, the fact that it's just a possible cure.

[GeneralGeeWhiz 0]

Well I think it's safe to assume that a series of drugs that affect the immune system would have some serious side effects. I was just commenting on the fact that HIV/AIDS isn't the sure killer that it was back in the day when a possible cure would have been headline news for days. Plus, you know, the fact that it's just a possible cure.

yep. makes sense hah. and it isnt the killer it used to be, but still horrible. i hope we can find a cure in my life time.

[SweetDee 0]

Maybe a continued focus on protection and education. If we could get guys in Africa to put a bag on we knock out like 80% or more of the AIDS problem world wide. True story.

[ShakeZuma 585]

I haven't read anything but the title of this thread but I will never wear a condom again. thnx for posting tim.

[vbnautilus 48]

Also, me being angry at the over-coverage of the Ground Zero Terror Mosque! is probably more rational than people being angry at the existence of the mosque itself.

If the muslims kill science we won't find the cure for AIDS.

[BigDMcGee 3,355]

Great. Now how are we going to kill off fags and negros?

[LongLiveYorke 38]

Great. Now how are we going to kill off fags and negros?

The old fashioned way for the win. God gave us fire and stakes for a reason.

[speedz99 145]

He said gays and blacks, not frankenstein's monster and vampires.

[BigDMcGee 3,355]

He said gays and blacks, not frankenstein's monster and vampires.

i'm pretty sure I said fags and negros...

[speedz99 145]

I know what you said.

[Quacktastic 106]

yep. makes sense hah. and it isnt the killer it used to be, but still horrible. i hope we can find a cure in my life time.

Me too. I need to lose some weight and the treadmill just isn't working...

[WordsOfTheProphet 0]

I would honestly be surprised if the cure wasn't already out there somewhere

[mrdannyg 274]

I would honestly be surprised if the cure wasn't already out there somewhere

An often-overlooked point. I mean, I don't have HIV OR AIDS, so I mean, there's gotta be a cure right?NB - italicizing one-letter words is an excellent way to add emphasis.

[custom36 5]

I would honestly be surprised if the cure wasn't already out there somewhere

I'll bet you could find it amongst Brazillian medicine men...

[LongLiveYorke 38]

I'll bet you could find it amongst Brazillian medicine men...

I don't think there are that many medicine men in the world.NB - works for four letter words too

[chrozzo 19]

you take all the cash you have, liquify it, then inject it...problem solved

[custom36 5]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/science/...mp;pagewanted=1It essentially says that scientists gave the bedbugs aids, and the aids died. Weird and interesting.But the bedbug hysteria is still bullshit

[Balloon guy 158]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/science/...mp;pagewanted=1It essentially says that scientists gave the bedbugs aids, and the aids died. Weird and interesting.But the bedbug hysteria is still bullshit

See.First you let gay men marry, now men are having un-protected sex with insects.I told you so!

[antistuff 0]

ive read on multiple sites that HIV Cocktails can actually be very bad for you, so i hope this may be a cure. i've lost a friend to AIDS, it's terrible.

im watching somebody close go through this over the past few years. these drugs really do a number.