Posts tagged HIV cure news
Antibodies in the Future of HIV Treatment
8 years ago
Antibodies, also known as Y-shaped proteins produced by plasma cells, play an important role in keeping us healthy and free from infection. Now, HIV research scientists have identified a protein known as bNAbs. It stands for ‘broadly neutralizing antibodies’ and it may hold the promise of preventing HIV infections. The virus has spikes on it – not unlike many villains – and it uses these to bind and take over healthy cells.
The envelope spike or protein is the preferred target for the bNAbs. They are well equipped to recognize and subdue the virus. However, each type of bNAb is programmed to target specific epitopes or antigens on the spike. Certain bNAbs, therefore, have greater success in suppressing the virus than others. What most known bNAbs do have in common is that they tend to recognize the envelope spike in its closed position.
A virus will attach itself to a healthy cell, but in doing so the spike will open and close – depending on the stage it’s in. One lab has discovered a particular bNAb that can detect the virus when the spike is closed but also when it is partially opened. It was found while the research team was studying the antibodies of those whose bodies successfully control the HIV infection on their own. What is this special antibody called? 8ANC195. Continued efforts to see how 8ANS195 does what it does may lead to big things.
This could prove extremely beneficial in aiding those who are battling with HIV infection. These bNAbs could prove invaluable in identifying and neutralizing HIV that has gone undetected by the immune system. Seeing as most bNAbs target the virus when the envelope spike is closed, the virus with an open spike is free to continue unhindered. Now, with the discovery of antibodies that can detect the virus in its different forms, treatments can be more effective.
For HIV research, the promise of hope offered by these special bNAbs comes with more good news – it could be available in treatments in a short period of time. Clinical trials are already under way. Also, plans to make the antibodies even more effective are in the works. Researchers feel that introducing this bNAb to the cocktail will enhance the treatment therapies currently used.
HIV May Evolve into an Ineffective Virus
8 years ago
HIV, like most viruses, evolves continually and at a rapid pace. Its process of replication is through constant mutation, so HIV cells can generate thousands of mutations of themselves. Some mutations die off before they take control over the virus cells of a host body, and some mutations become a dominant factor in the local virus population. Mutations that help the cells survive the longest have the best chance of dominating, and although some believe this may make HIV a stronger virus over time, there is evidence now emerging that shows the possibility that HIV may evolve – eventually – into a weaker, more treatable, and possibly ineffective virus.
The research showing this new evidence comes out of Africa. Philip Goulder, from the University of Oxford, and his team of researchers looked at the HIV epidemics in Botswana and South Africa. The epidemic started in Botswana roughly ten years before it hit South Africa, so the researchers took blood samples from roughly 2,000 HIV positive women from these two countries to compare the DNA structures of the viruses in each population. HIV cells in infected Botswanan women had developed mutations which helped them evade the immune system. Although this sounds like a bad sign, the mutations – in helping the virus evade detection – crippled the virus in many ways. Mutations in the Botswanan women slightly slowed down the replication speed of the virus cells, causing a 10% decrease in replication time. This slight variation helped the women’s immune systems keep up with the virus for a few years longer, causing a longer period between initial infection and when the virus caused AIDS to develop (meaning the immune system had been compromised completely).
This mutation only occurred over 10 years between when Botswana had its HIV outbreak and when the HIV outbreak spread to South Africa, so in a relatively short amount of time (one decade), HIV naturally evolved into a weaker virus. Goulder, of the research team looking at these mutations, says, “HIV can generate any mutation in the book, on any day,” so he’s not surprised that big mutations like this could occur so quickly. This mutation changes the time that the virus causes AIDS in untreated infected individuals to go from roughly 10 years to 12.5 years, which could mean the difference of life and death for those awaiting treatment. These mutations are already showing researchers where to focus their attacks on the virus, possibly leading to the development of an effective HIV vaccine. And, with the virus already mutating in this fashion, HIV may evolve to the point where the virus never completely compromises the natural human immune system, and where the immune system alone could maintain and control the HIV virus indefinitely.
New HIV Antibody
9 years ago
by ADMIN
in HIV Therapy
New HIV Antibody: Reveals New HIV Vulnerability
It has recently been discovered that a new HIV antibody, known as 35O22, binds itself to a spot on the HIV cell walls—one that was not previously recognized as a vulnerable location. This viral spike, which is located in an area straddling the proteins gp41 and gp120, is weak to the antibody. Because of this, 35O22 is able to bind to the HIV cell and actually neutralizes several strains of the virus. This new HIV antibody has many researchers cautiously hopeful, as the discovery could turn out to be extremely significant.
Over half of the known HIV strains, roughly 60 percent, are affected by the 35O22 antibody. In laboratory tests, moreover, the antibody actually prevented these strains of HIV from infecting other cells. More good news is that the antibody is very potent, which means only a small amount of the antibody is needed to neutralize the virus. After discovering 35O22, scientists and researchers have identified other 35O22-like antibodies that are common in groups of HIV-infected people. Indeed, their blood contains antibodies that could potentially neutralize most of the known HIV strains. This suggests that a vaccine could elicit 35O22 much easier than other less common bNAbs (Broadly Neutralizing HIV-1 Antibodies) – the grouping of antibodies 35O22 belongs in.
Researchers also report that the strains of HIV that 35O22 neutralizes compliments the strains neutralized by other bNAbs. This means that combining 35O22 with some of the other bNAbs in a vaccine, prevention treatment, or therapy could produce a single solution to the problem of HIV: the complete neutralization of the vast majority of HIV strains found around the globe. This new HIV antibody and the exposure of a new vulnerability in the HIV cell is therefore very significant. In fact, it could mean a potential cure for HIV by way of preventing all known strains of the virus from replicating.
Newest Case of an Apparent HIV Cure
Newest Case of An Apparent HIV Cure: Baby Shows Viral Reemergence
Last year a child in the southern United States known now as the ‘Mississippi Baby,’ received worldwide acclaim. The reason for the acclaim was it was the newest case of an apparent HIV cure, as the baby had had a complete viral remission of HIV. This child, born in 2010, was infected at the time of birth with HIV. The child was diagnosed as HIV positive, and was immediately given a highly concentrated treatment of antiretroviral therapy (ART). At 18 months old, the baby was no longer brought to the doctor for treatments or tests for five months, and when the child returned to the doctors they feared her HIV levels would be very high. Instead, the virus was undetectable. Along with a lack of HIV cells, there were no HIV antibodies present in the body. This seemed to be further “proof” to the scientific community of an apparent HIV ‘cure.’ Moreover, this prompted a worldwide study of intensive ART treatment.
Then, in Milan, Italy, a baby who was born HIV positive in 2009, was also thought to have been ‘cured.’ This baby had received intense ART shortly after the child’s birth and continued for three years. Again, there was no trace of HIV cells or of HIV antibodies in the child’s blood. After several months of these same results, ART treatment was stopped. Unfortunately, two weeks later the HIV tests became positive again, again illustrating that talk of a cure was premature.
In July, 2014 the ‘Mississippi Baby’ also tested positive for HIV. This was a major blow to the research in ART, and to the hope of completely eradicating any traces of HIV in a body. “It felt like a punch to the gut,” said Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
There are two other patients who were once considered cured of HIV, an anonymous patient and Timothy Ray Brown. As they were both treated in Berlin, they have been dubbed the ‘Berlin Patients‘ by many media outlets. But this newest case of an apparent HIV cure is not secure, as the anonymous patient has reverted to being HIV positive. However, this is not a roadblock; it is the start of a new push in research for achieving a true cure for HIV.
HIV to Treat HIV
9 years ago
by ADMIN
in HIV Research
HIV To Treat HIV: HIV ‘Cut and Paste’
Researchers recently applied the idea of ‘cut and paste’ to something completely different than word processing on their computers: the treatment of HIV. Of course, most of us use ‘cut-and-paste’ on a regular basis, whether for emails, documents, or filling in information. Certainly, it is a function that comes in handy. However, this cutting-edge technique could mean really big changes on the HIV battlefield. What we are talking about is using HIV to treat HIV. Obviously, this is an exciting idea. But, how does this process work? Moreover, how will this be beneficial in HIV treatment?
Within our cells are proteins, which are used to perform a variety of tasks. One of these proteins acts like a pair of scissors. It cuts away at the genome, grabbing and separating bits of information. The cell can then use the information as needed. For scientists, these natural ‘scissors’ can be used to help patch up damaged cells. The damaged cells, specifically those infected with HIV, have genetic bits of information missing. In order to patch up these holes, the ‘scissors’ could cut out patches from the virus and then use this to patch up the damaged cells. In effect, parts of the HIV would be cut away to repair the damage done by the disease. This may sound far-fetched, but recent testing gives reason for optimism.
HIV has been studied for nearly three decades and it may seem ironic to use HIV to treat HIV. However, it is a promising point of attack in the fight against HIV and AIDS, especially as this therapy looks particularly sound in the area of strengthening the immune system. Assisting the body to not only resist attack—but also to fend it off in such a manner—would be a big step in the fight against HIV. Should the cut and paste method prove successful, there may be other infections that could also be treated or prevented using similar methods.
