Friday, February 25, 2005
Prevention and Protection
Today brings two bits of hopeful news in the fight against HIV. Researchers at the Mount Sanai School of Medicine report that a topical gel has potent in vivo antiviral activity against HIV and the Herpes Simplex virus. The gel is placed in the vagina and reduces viral activity 1000 fold. If this proves to be both safe and truly effective, it could be added to lubes and condoms for vastly improved safety. Cool.
Once HIV enters the body, the immune system attempts to neutralize it before it can enter cells to replicate and do its damage. Only a few people are known to have developed successful antibodies to HIV, and Scripps researchers have characterized one of them. This could be a crucial step in developing better treatments and, most excitingly, an effective vaccine against HIV.
But we still need a cure.
Once HIV enters the body, the immune system attempts to neutralize it before it can enter cells to replicate and do its damage. Only a few people are known to have developed successful antibodies to HIV, and Scripps researchers have characterized one of them. This could be a crucial step in developing better treatments and, most excitingly, an effective vaccine against HIV.
But we still need a cure.
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