This might be "Bye Bye to condoms" as scientists finds a cure for HIV/AIDS

Researchers at Philadelphia's Temple University have made a thrilling breakthrough on the path to cure HIV/AIDS. In a recent experiment, they managed to remove HIV-1 DNA out of the human genome. And when they reintroduced HIV to the edited genomes, the cells were no longer infected with the virus .‎

It's a huge leap towards the goal of curing the disease that has killed over 25 million people since the 1980's. Treatment has come a long way in the last few years, yet the scientists said antiretroviral drugs, which can regulate the disease, are not a permanent solution. As soon as a person stops receiving the treatment, their cells are once again open to the infection, and the virus usually progresses into AIDS. At this point, doctors are able to keep the virus at bay, but not cure it.

The Temple University scientists may have brought us one step closer to a cure. They employed CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, first developed in 2012 , to cut HIV-1 out of the genome, after which the human DNA healed itself.‎

Dr. Kamel Khalili, director of the Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center at Temple University claims that they are ready to put his new gene therapy into a new drug that will cure HIV in patients even after they stop taking the drugs.

In an interview, Dr Khalili said:

"The findings are important on multiple levels. They demonstrate the effectiveness of our gene editing system in eliminating HIV from the DNA of CD4 T-cells and, by introducing mutations into the viral genome, permanently inactivating its replication. Further, they show that the system can protect cells from reinfection and that the technology is safe for the cells, with no toxic effects,"

Comments

Enjoy the use of Condom this Valentine. Thailand tells citizens

Valentine is fast approaching and the Government of Thailand have decided to launch a campaign to help its citizens that are too shy to buy condoms. They will therefore distribute condoms in large quantities to the citizens in a campaign tagged "Condoms for Confidence". According to Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong of the Ministry of Public Health, ‎" ‎This valentine, there is a high tendency of people, most especially youths getting involved in unprotected sex". "Teenagers, especially, do not have to be embarrassed about buying condoms. The ‎s ociety also have to accept that teenage girls buy condoms, which is better than more teenage girls getting pregnant. We have to persuade Thais to accept condoms as a hygiene item in everyday life to protect against pregnancy and AIDS".

Mechanic kills friend for urinating near his shop

Tragedy struck the park of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners in the Berger, Mile 2 area of Lagos as a a mechanic, identified only as Oshare, reportedly stabbed his friend to death and injured several others. Rasta, Oshare's friend allegedly urinated beside a stationary truck. Oshare, reportedly challenged the deceased for messing up the spot, said to be a few steps from his shop. As Rasta tried to calm him, he reportedly slapped him, which led to a fight. The mechanic, who got so angry grabbed two bottles and stabbed the friend in the neck. He was also said to have injured some people who attempted to caution him. Rasta reportedly bled from his injuries and he was rushed to a hospital for treatment. He, however, died before he could get help. An eyewitness said "Both of them are mechanics and friends. He confronted Rasta for urinating near his shop and it led to a fight. Oshare rushed to my shop with two bottles in his hands, asking me to give him a knife....

Cell-Associated HIV Transmission Contributes To HIV Epidemic

Dr. Deborah Anderson from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and her colleagues are challenging dogma about the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Most research has focused on infection by free viral particles, while this group proposes that HIV is also transmitted by infected cells. While inside cells, HIV is protected from antibodies and other antiviral factors, and cell-to-cell virus transmission occurs very efficiently through intercellular synapses. The Journal of Infectious Diseases (JID) has devoted their December supplement to this important and understudied topic. The 10 articles, four from researchers at BUSM, present the case for cell-associated HIV transmission as an important element contributing to the HIV epidemic. Anderson chides fellow researchers for not using cell-associated HIV in their transmission models: "The failure of several recent vaccine and microbicide clinical trials to prevent HIV transmission may be due in p...

Daily Gister

Search This Blog