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Drug that prevents AIDS? Reuters says so...
- Thread starter MacGuffin
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First I've heard of it. But since I'm a skeptical pathology PhD student who works alongside a large group of SIV/HIV researchers I will say that this prospective preventative treatment does not offer 100% protection.
CCR5 is a receptor that HIV uses to dock and infect T-cells. Knocking down CCR5 is thought to prevent HIV from infecting human T cells because (1) it appears to work on Rhesus macaques (monkeys) and (2) people lacking CCR5 appear to be protected from HIV infection.
However other studies have already shown that HIV can use other cell surface proteins to dock and infect so the true impact of this kind of drug is up in the air. Additionally, the drugs that I read about maximally knock down CCR5 in T-cells by 90%. That still leaves plenty of T-cells out there expressing CCR5 at the T-cell surface.
Basically, it looks like these drugs could have a significant impact in slowing the spread of HIV, but not completely preventing it... and the question of whether such a drug will find its way to the hardest hit regions of the world (Africa, India, etc.) is an entirely different matter.
CCR5 is a receptor that HIV uses to dock and infect T-cells. Knocking down CCR5 is thought to prevent HIV from infecting human T cells because (1) it appears to work on Rhesus macaques (monkeys) and (2) people lacking CCR5 appear to be protected from HIV infection.
However other studies have already shown that HIV can use other cell surface proteins to dock and infect so the true impact of this kind of drug is up in the air. Additionally, the drugs that I read about maximally knock down CCR5 in T-cells by 90%. That still leaves plenty of T-cells out there expressing CCR5 at the T-cell surface.
Basically, it looks like these drugs could have a significant impact in slowing the spread of HIV, but not completely preventing it... and the question of whether such a drug will find its way to the hardest hit regions of the world (Africa, India, etc.) is an entirely different matter.
Manabanana
Member
Iceman said:
Can people without CCR5 still spread the disease? (assuming the virus doesn't dock on another protein).
Optimistic
Member
Let's pretend for a second that there actually IS a drug that prevents aids/hiv (which there surely isn't); condom companies would be fucked! Therefore, there's clearly going to be some sort of conspiracy to keep this under wraps, or you know, the patent will be bought and buried. Clearly. It's the only logical conclusion.
Alex Anderson
Member
Tell me that was intentional
The Faceless Master
Member
there are lots of other uses... like... oh wait, this is a joke post, right?Optimistic said:
Teknopathetic
Member
There's only one Disease worse than AIDS. It doesn't kill you. It sticks with you forever, takes all your money, ruins your social life and your mental stability.
KIDS.
KIDS.
Tritroid
Member
There is a drug that exists for preventing HIV before it has a chance to take hold and spread through the blood stream, and at this point it's exclusively used only for doctors/nurses who have a needle prick involving an HIV+ patient.
In reality it's sad that such a drug remains exclusive to doctors and nurses only, but considering the cost of the drug there's no way that an average patient suspecting a possible HIV infection could afford it. But still, the drug isn't 100% flawless, and it would have to be used mere hours/days after a possible exposure. This automatically rules out the number of people who travel to a clinic with worries of a possible exposure after the 3-6 month wait period requesting a blood test.
In reality it's sad that such a drug remains exclusive to doctors and nurses only, but considering the cost of the drug there's no way that an average patient suspecting a possible HIV infection could afford it. But still, the drug isn't 100% flawless, and it would have to be used mere hours/days after a possible exposure. This automatically rules out the number of people who travel to a clinic with worries of a possible exposure after the 3-6 month wait period requesting a blood test.
BigGreenMat
Member
I am surprised nobody has tried this before. Knocking down a single protein's expression on cell surfaces is really freaking easy and we have known for a while that CCR5 is the coreceptor used in HIV infection. Also just because it doesn't knock it down 100% doesn't mean it will be ineffective. Iceman, I am with you it won't be a panacea, but it is a very logical and most likely effective treatment as you only need to stop the virus at its entry point. So for men it is peripheral macrophages and t-cells in and around the glans and urethra and women it is in the vagina. This isn't tough at all since the cells in this area are rare to begin with and hence the low infection rate of HIV. I see this being a similar treatment for HIV as the morning after pill is for pregnancy. It has to be taken within a short time (not hours, but a few days) of exposure and will have a pretty high efficacy if taken properly, but not 100%
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