10 Aug 2010

Gels to Prevent Transmission of AIDS

aids, disease
War against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), continues to progress. A number of scientists led by Professor Robin Offord and Olivier Hartley of the University of Geneva, Switzerland, recently, successfully developed a kind of molecule that is believed to protect humans from HIV / AIDS virus.

An enhanced protein from the human immune system proteins were shown to protect female monkeys from AIDS virus. The plan, a formula was developed in the form of gels that can be used in humans to prevent sexual transmission of HIV. In laboratory tests, the compound was able to protect cells from the HIV virus during a full day.

That is, in theory, people who use chemical gels that are protected from the onslaught of HIV / AIDS at least 24 hours before having sex. Maximum in front, side effects such gels can already known to man. Then, the drug was tested for levels of preventive efficacy at blocking HIV infection / AIDS in high-risk groups.

Furthermore, Offord and colleagues will develop a cheaper way and easy to make a molecule. As is known, HIV can produce their own cell in the human bloodstream, namely the white blood cells (leukocytes). White blood cells that usually fight if attacked by a virus, will not fight HIV.

This could occur because HIV is a retrovirus or a similar virus that can multiply in human blood. Later, the virus has attacked one type of white blood cells, including lymphocytes, called "T-4" or T-helper (helper) who is also known as CD-4 cells. To be able to infect the CD-4, HIV requires receptor - one or a group of nerve cells and other cells that function to recognize certain stimuli originating from outside or within the body - which is called CCR5.

According to research, Offord and colleagues, people who have a lot of CD-4 cells with little CCR5 is almost certainly safe from HIV infection. The cell was acting as immune system chemical messengers called regulated on activation normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES). Well, RANTES is being developed by a team led Offord to prevent HIV infection.

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