Scientists discover AIDS breakthrough

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Dropdeadqt
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Scientists discover AIDS breakthrough

Post by Dropdeadqt » 09 Jul 2010, 10:52

US researchers have discovered two powerful antibodies that neutralise more than 90 per cent of all known strains of the HIV virus in the lab, new research released today showed.

NIH-led scientists discovered the antibodies known as VRCO1 and VRCO2 that prevent most HIV strains from infecting human cells. The find is a potential breakthrough for advancing HIV vaccine design, and antibody therapy for other diseases.

The authors, whose work is published in the July 9 issue of Science, also were able to demonstrate how one of these disease-fighting proteins gets the job done.

"The discovery of these exceptionally broadly neutralising antibodies to HIV and the structural analysis that explains how they work are exciting advances that will accelerate our efforts to find a preventive HIV vaccine for global use," said Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health.

"In addition, the technique the teams used to find the new antibodies represents a novel strategy that could be applied to vaccine design for many other infectious diseases," Dr Fauci said.

The team of virologists found that the two antibodies were produced naturally and found in the blood of HIV-positive people.

They were able to isolate these antibodies using a new molecular device they developed. It zeroes in on specific cells that make antibodies against HIV. The device is an HIV protein scientists modified to react only with antibodies specific to the site where the virus binds to cells it infects.

Leading two research teams were NIAID scientists Peter Kwong, PhD, John Mascola, MD, and Gary Nabel, MD, PhD.

"We have used our knowledge of the structure of a virus - in this case, the outer surface of HIV - to refine molecular tools that pinpoint the vulnerable spot on the virus and guide us to antibodies that attach to this spot, blocking the virus from infecting cells," Dr Nabel said.

Dr Mascola said that: "the antibodies attach to a virtually unchanging part of the virus, and this explains why they can neutralise such an extraordinary range of HIV strains."

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/sc ... z0t8rdviju
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Johnnyrico
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Re: Scientists discover AIDS breakthrough

Post by Johnnyrico » 09 Jul 2010, 11:40

this is fucking awesome and/or win!
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Re: Scientists discover AIDS breakthrough

Post by Lellybaby » 09 Jul 2010, 11:46

Its good to see humanity getting somewhere trying to find cures to these diseases that have plagued the world for many years.

Cancer, Aids, etc.

Losing a person to one of these illnesses is one of the worst things to watch.

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midi
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Re: Scientists discover AIDS breakthrough

Post by midi » 09 Jul 2010, 12:17

Who owns the patents?

Yeah, I'm bitter.
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Cartollomew
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Re: Scientists discover AIDS breakthrough

Post by Cartollomew » 09 Jul 2010, 12:53

This is going to be slightly weird for all the people who insist AIDS is made up and doesn't exist.

Actually, no - they're deluded enough that this'll be just another thing to ignore.
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Re: Scientists discover AIDS breakthrough

Post by Mitra » 09 Jul 2010, 13:00

Cartollomew wrote:This is going to be slightly weird for all the people who insist AIDS is made up and doesn't exist.

Actually, no - they're deluded enough that this'll be just another thing to ignore.

and they'll claim it was their vitamins that made all the difference not this "vaccine"

and the religious nuts will say that it's proof that people are finally living the way they (think they) should because there is no vaccine against God's wrath!
"Life is no Nintendo game / But you lied again / Now you get to watch her leave / Out the window / Guess that's why they call it window pane" -Eminem 'Love the way you lie' - Award for Excellence in Puns in the medium of Rap 2010

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