Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The preparation of antibodies can stop AIDS: only monkeys


The group of scientists said that they have developed the drug can protect monkeys from immunodeficiency caused by HIV monkeys (SIO).
The virus is the closest relative of HIV, which leads to AIDS in humans. Nine rhesus macaque infected VIO, and then they were treated to new medication, and all of them, thanks to him, survived.

A new method of treatment aimed at preventing the virus "deceive" the immune system, said the site drugs.com.
While there is no guarantee that a similar drug will do the same effective for humans. However, if this proves true, people with HIV will be able to renounce permanent receiving drugs suppress the virus - the drug will protect them from development stage of AIDS by the end of life.

This was announced by Research Rama Rao Amara, professor at Emory University. "Imagine you had to drink medicine every day, and now you wake up and realize that you do not need to drink now, no pills - is a huge breakthrough in the treatment" - he said.


In addition, according to Amara modern medicines against HIV are very expensive and they have potential side effects. Of course, existing drugs are very effective - they allow people with HIV stay healthy and lead a normal life. Nevertheless, there is always a risk that the virus will become resistant to taking drugs. "The virus is changing, and after a while drugs can stop working," - said Amara.

In the new study, Amara and his colleagues have introduced nine monkeys antibody that blocks the signal virus, "saying" immune cells - "do not kill me." This message appears on the surface of cells infected with the ODS, and cell-killers think - this is not the enemy, this friend.

" However, if the signal is blocked, the cell-killers immune systems are starting to do their work and destroy the virus.


Researchers have introduced four injections of antibodies monkeys for 10 days and then watched what happened. Monkeys that were infected with the ODS for 21 months, were able to almost completely suppress the virus.
The level of virus in their blood were low, monkeys survived, while most monkeys usually die from VIO during the first four months. "It's just amazing how you can dramatically change these cells killers. Now they have a really good cells", - said Amara.


However, monkeys, which now hopes for a new HIV treatment is now waiting for the sad fate - they put to sleep because scientists do not have the means to continue to support them and monitor them.

If the same treatment developed for people, the cost will be about 2000 dollars per dose, however, said Amara, the total cost of treatment will be less than that of modern therapies against HIV.
Dr. Mark Connors, a specialist in the field of AIDS research, believes that the study "a true and very interesting." "I am confident that it will cause more heated debate, and within the next year we'll talk about that matter the results," - he said.

Even skeptics agree that this method of treatment can reduce the level of virus in the body, said Connors, who heads the office of the HIV-specific immunity at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases USA.

Sam Connors said he was "cautiously optimistic" about what this drug can be applied to people, possibly in combination with other methods of treatment.

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