SCIENTISTS ADVANCE IN SEARCH OF AIDS, TB CURE

Posted by Cash On on 2012-05-31 0

scientists have recorded new breakthroughs in their advance for cure for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/ Acquired immuno Deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and a more effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB).
Using gene profiling, scientists can now predicts who will succumb to tuberculosis and how it select its victims.

TB caused by bacterium. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, infects one-third of people worldwide. But only 10 percent of people is infected will actually get sick with debilitating lung disease. Until now scientists had no way to predict who will become ill.

According to new study published in Nature, an international consortium of researchers has now complied profiles of genetic activity in the blood of people with dormant TB infections, those profiles show how the immune systems deals with tuberculosis and points to some to some suprising culprits responsible for awakening a slumbering infection. Such profiles may help predict someone who could succumb to TB.

Also following up a pioneering 2007 proof of concept study in the university of utah, united states of america, biochemists and colleagues have developed a promising anti Hiv drug candidate, PIE12-trimer, that prevents Hiv from attacking human cells
Associate professor of biochemistry in the university of utah school of medicine united states, and senior author of the study published on august 2010, online by prof. Nicheal s. Kay, is raising fund to begin animal safety studies, followed by human clinical trials in two to three years.

Kay believes that PIE12-trimer is ideally suited for use as a vaginal microbicide (tropically applied drug ) to prevent HIV infection. His research group is particularly focused on preventing the spread of HIV in Africa, which an estimated two-thirds of the worlds 33 million HIV patients according to the world health organisation (WHO).

In another study researchers have identified the key components of a protein called TRIM5a that destroys HIV in rhesus monkeys using a $ 225,000 microscope
The finding to lead to an new TRIM5a based treatments that would knock out HIV in humans, said senior researcher Dr. Edwards M. Campbell of loyola university health system, united states.

Campbell and his colleagues report their findings in an article featured on the cover of issues of virology.

In 2004 other researchers reported that TRIM5a protects rhesus monkeys from HIV. The TRIM5a protein first latchers on to a HIV virus, then other TRIM5a protein gang up and destroys the virus.

Humans also have TRIM5a but while the human version protects against some viruses, it does not protect against Hiv