Scientists Disarm AIDS Virus’ Attack on Immune System (a couple days old)

[DainBramaged]

Scientists say they have found a way to disarm the AIDS virus in research that could lead to a vaccine. Researchers have discovered that if they eliminate a cholesterol membrane surrounding the virus, HIV cannot disrupt communication among disease-fighting cells and the immune system returns to normal.

Scientists have discovered that HIV needs cholesterol, which it picks up from the first immune cells it infects, to keep the virus' outer membrane fluid. That allows it to communicate with - and disrupt - the body's immune system.

The long-term effect of this disrupted communication is to destroy the body’s normal defense against the AIDS virus, which is responsible for 1.8 million deaths each year.

But researchers say they can prevent HIV from damaging the immune system, if they remove the cholesterol from the virus’ outer membrane.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/health/-Scientists-Disarm-AIDS-Virus-Attack-on-Immune-System-130313993.html

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[DainBramaged]

2. Unfortunately, it appears we've gotten to the point that it isn't important anymore

I may just resign myself to posting cat photos.........

[nilram]

7. Nice cat.

[Luciferous]

3. K&R

[d_b]

4. k&r

[sfpcjock]

5. Great. Genentech had a 70% effective vaccine a few years ago,

(in blacks, only) but the criterion was for across-the-board effectiveness. The ironic thing is that a majority of new infections are actually among blacks.

[Ohio Joe]

6. K&R - nt