One-two Punch In Battle Against HIV

[vow66]

One-two Punch In Battle Against HIV: New HIV Microbicide, And A Way To Mass Produce It In Plants, Developed

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090528110629.htm

In what could be a major pharmaceutical breakthrough, research published in The FASEB Journal describes how scientists from St George's, University of London have devised a one-two punch to stop HIV. First the report describes a new protein that can kill the virus when used as a microbicide. Then the report shows how it might be possible to manufacture this protein in quantities large enough to make it affordable for people in developing countries.

"We desperately need to control the spread of HIV, particularly in developing countries," said Julian Ma of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at St. George's and the senior researcher involved in the work. "A vaccine is still some way off, but microbicides could provide a more immediate solution, provided we can overcome major hurdles of high efficacy, low cost, and wide availability—all of which we address in this study."

In the research paper, Ma and colleagues describe how they combined two protein microbicides (b12 monoclonal antibody and cyanovirin-N) into a single "fusion" molecule and showed that this molecule is more active against HIV than either of its individual components. They designed synthetic DNA for producing this molecule and introduced this DNA into plant cells. After regenerating transgenic plants that produce the fusion molecule, they prepared the microbicide from a plant extract made by grinding the leaves.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. This is great news for millions.... while surfing Pubmed I found

the following that others may not be aware of but need to be.

1: Horm Metab Res. 2009 May 5. Click here to read Links
Selenium and Inflammation: Underlying Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms.
Duntas LH.

1Endocrine Unit, Evgenidion Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.

The essential trace element selenium (Se), in the form of selenoproteins, plays a pivotal role in the antioxidant defense system of the cell. There is evidence that Se may confer benefits in patients with inflammatory disease and even infectious diseases like HIV. Furthermore, in patients with severe sepsis, characterized by an increase in reactive oxygen species and low endogenous anti-oxidative capacity, as well as in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome, Se supplementation may reduce mortality and improve the clinical outcome, respectively.

The nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway has been associated with enhanced inflammatory response and its activation has been significantly correlated with interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha production. Selenium may inhibit the activation of NF-kappaB by modulating selenoprotein genes expression.

Moreover, Se supplementation in chronic inflammation restores the depleted hepatic and serum Se levels by increasing selenoprotein biosynthesis leading to suppressed CRP production thereby attenuating the inflammatory process. Se increases shedding of L-selectin from monocytes while decreasing soluble L-selectin, which has been reported to be associated with high mortality in patients with sepsis. These mechanisms are likely to contribute to the modulatory effects of an increased Se status on the inflammatory response.

This review evaluates some apparently key mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory action of selenium and advocates Se supplementation as a modulator of inflammatory response in infectious and autoimmune disease. Prospective, randomized, controlled studies must be performed to provide a greater degree of certainty.



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1: Bull Soc Pathol Exot. 2009 Feb;102(1):11-3.Links

Djinhi J, Tiahou G, Zirihi G, Lohoues E, Monde A, Camara C, Sess E.

Laboratoire de biochimie, UFR Sciences médicales, Université de Cocody Abidjan, BP 240 Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oxidative stress and selenium status and the antioxidant capacity of asymptomatic HIV1-infected patients in Côte d'Ivoire. This study involved 30 asymptomatic HIV1-infected patients, aged from 18 to 50 years old, selected in CIRBA (Centre Intégré de Recherche Bioclinique d'Abidjan). They were not yet treated by antiretroviral medicine. Oxidative stress indicators MDA (malondialdehyde) and AOPP (advanced oxidation protein products) were measured respectively by spectrofluorimetric method and spectrophotometric method. Selenium, vitamin E and vitamin A concentrations were evaluated according to the HPLC method. Our results show that all patients were deficient in selenium (0.58 +/- 0.12 micromol/L vs 1.80 +/- 0.31 micromol/L, p < 0.0001). Patient Vitamin E plasma level (27.47 +/- 8.33 micromol/L vs 19.10 +/- 5.33 micromol/L, p < 0.0001) and oxidative stress indicators MDA (3.32 +/- 0.40 nmol/L vs 0.99 +/- 0.26 nmol/L p < 0.0001) and AOPP (62.49 +/- 13.75 micromol/L vs 39.49 +/- 21.27 micromol/L p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the infected group. These results reveal a severe selenium deficiency and oxidative stress in VIH1-infected asymptomatic Persons in Côte d'Ivoire.