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Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV

news.wustl.edu

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Re: Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV

#21

Post by carbocation »

gizmo686 wrote: post #18
carbocation wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the reservoir for HIV infection, the thing that makes clearing HIV particles from the blood insufficient to cure it, is the CD4 T-cell. So just clearing the blood of HIV will not be curative.

I don't have much biology experience, but if you can keep the blood stream clear of HIV, wouldn't that prevent new T-cells from getting infected, allowing the count of healthy T-cells to start growing as the body makes new ones?

Yes. That's the basis for HAART, the current mainstay of HIV treatment. It's a good treatment, but not a cure.

Re: Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV

#22

Post by carbocation »

sukuriant wrote: post #19
carbocation wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the reservoir for HIV infection, the thing that makes clearing HIV particles from the blood insufficient to cure it, is the CD4 T-cell. So just clearing the blood of HIV will not be curative.

I'm not a biologist either; but, a thought: if the body is protected from greater infection while still keeping its infection levels constant, could the body then actually create successful antibodies for the existing HIV in them, and become cured over time?

It's a good thought, but if that were true, then HAART, which keeps viral load low, would lead to a cure.

Re: Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV

#23

Post by carbocation »

Ntrails wrote: post #15
shpxnvz wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hood also sees potential for using nanoparticles with melittin as therapy for existing HIV infections, especially those that are drug-resistant. The nanoparticles could be injected intravenously and, in theory, would be able to clear HIV from the blood stream.

I have no idea what clearing HIV from the blood stream would achieve? I assume it is not a cure, but might help reduce risk of transmission or something? Edit: Question answered whilst I wrote it! <3

You are correct that lower viral loads reduce the risk of transmission to others. [1]

[1] = http://www.aidsmap.com/Viral-load-and-sexual-transmission-ri...

Re: Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV

#25

Post by tokenadult »

This submissions is a press release from a university press office. There is a well established science news cycle

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?f=1174

in which a university press office will hype a preliminary research finding, and then credulous news organizations will amplify the hype. The incentive to do this is gaining external funding for research projects and looking good to prospective students or faculty candidates.

The preliminary finding mentioned in the press release submitted here will take a lot more clinical research before we can be sure that this is safe and effective for human use.

http://norvig.com/experiment-design.html

That's been the usual experience here on Hacker News--gee-whiz press releases about breakthroughs submitted a few years ago end up not having any actual clinical safety or effectiveness as the preliminary findings are followed up by clinical trials. It's great to continue research on means of killing viruses or errant cells in human tissues, but it will be a long while, if ever, before this is a first-line defense against AIDS or any other health risk.

Re: Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV

#26

Post by sukuriant »

carbocation wrote: post #22
sukuriant wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not a biologist either; but, a thought: if the body is protected from greater infection while still keeping its infection levels constant, could the body then actually create successful antibodies for the existing HIV in them, and become cured over time?

It's a good thought, but if that were true, then HAART, which keeps viral load low, would lead to a cure.

Maybe it will in 20 years time...? I honestly have no idea. I'm speaking way outside of my knowledge realm and am more thinking aloud and asking questions than anything

Re: Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV

#28

Post by carbocation »

sukuriant wrote: post #26
carbocation wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a good thought, but if that were true, then HAART, which keeps viral load low, would lead to a cure.

Maybe it will in 20 years time...? I honestly have no idea. I'm speaking way outside of my knowledge realm and am more thinking aloud and asking questions than anything

Interesting thought, and I think we have the data to answer the question. HAART has been around since ~1995, so we actually have about 20 years of data to say that it does not cure HIV.
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