Possible Breakthrough in Blocking the Spread of HIV
By Matt Balasis on March 5, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS (Herald de Paris) - A significant breakthrough to blocking the spread of HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS, which effects more than 33 million people worldwide, may be at hand. Ashley Haase, M.D., Head of Microbiology at the University of Minnesota and fellow microbiologist Patrick Schlievert (the researcher responsible for figuring out that tampons were the cause of Toxic Shock Syndrome several years back) published findings today in the Journal of Nature on a study using rhesus monkeys detailing a viable method for preventing the transmission of HIV, a development that could eventually save millions of lives. In a press release Haase stated:
“After 25 years, an effective vaccine for HIV is still on the distant horizon, so not only vaccines, but all research into ways to prevent the continued spread of this lethal virus, remain critically important.”
“If GML as a topical microbicide can add to our prevention, it could contribute to saving millions of lives,” said Haase.
Researchers were able to successfully block the transmission of aids in female monkeys through the application of a vaginal gel containing a common food additive known as glycerol monolaurate (GML) prior to being exposed to the virus. The gel, which is also found in ice cream, works by inhibiting the body’s immune response — a scientific paradox in the sense that HIV co-opts the body’s immune system and uses it like a mass transit system to infect the organism. GML specifically inhibits T-Cells from converging to the site of the infection. GML had been previously used as a treatment for Toxic Shock Syndrome. The study has been described by Lorraine Teel, Director of the Minnesota AIDS Project, as having “absolutely enormous implications”. The substance is present in breast milk which has always been understood to have certain anti-microbial and anti-bacterial qualities. GML can also be easily and cheaply produced in gel form, however there is considerable research remaining before it can be considered for human use. Human trials will invariably require some creative research parameters as there is no premise where researchers can presume to potentially infect healthy human subjects for purposes of gauging how effective a preventative measure GML may be. The unique properties of this substance, however, may make it feasible to safely distribute it to “at risk” populations and gauge whether there is a drop in infection rates. Whether the hard science of this study may have any connection with case histories detailing a high percentage of infants born to HIV infected mothers who have managed to remain free of the disease remains to be seen, but Unicef has sponsored studies showing that transmission of AIDS in developed nations from mother to infant can be as low as 2% provided there is sufficient anti-natal care. An article published in The Lancet dating back to March of 2007 details a study of infants who were breastfed exclusively for 6 months by HIV infected mothers that conferred a significantly reduced risk of developing HIV contrary to the assumption that breastfeeding might actually transmit the disease. The non-randomized study was conducted in 9 antenatal clinics in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa: seven rural, one semiurban, and one urban and included 2722 HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women who were followed until the babies were at least 6 months old.
Unfortunately the spread of the disease to infants in undeveloped nations continues to devastate the lives of millions globally. The study in question at the University of Minnesota appears to have successfully blocked the transmission of an extremely high dose of HIV in 5 female primates. Doctors Haase and Schievert caution that these findings are limited by the relatively small number of subjects in the study and it is not known as yet whether the treatment will work on human subjects. Even so, the sense is that they are on the right track and that this preventative approach may eventually produce a means to protect from AIDS transmission that could have a tremendous impact on slowing the spread of the disease, particularly among women in third world countries. Women in third world countries presently comprise the highest percentage of new cases of HIV globally. The study at the University of Minnesota was funded by The National Institutes of Health.
“Glycerol monolaurate prevents mucosal SIV transmission.”
Qingsheng Li, Jacob D. Estes, Patrick M. Schlievert, Lijie Duan, Amanda J. Brosnahan, Peter J. Southern, Cavan S. Reilly, Marnie L. Peterson, Nancy Schultz-Darken, Kevin G. Brunner, Karla R. Nephew, Stefan Pambuccian, Jeffrey D. Lifson, John V. Carlis & Ashley T. Haase.
Nature, advance online publication 4 March 2009.
doi:10.1038/nature07831
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Haagen Daz or Ben & Jerry’s?
Who had to apply the gel to those monkeys? I’d hate to have to stand in line for that job.
Got to be careful with those monkeys … they’ll rip your face off … YIKES!
Who applied the jell to the monkeys? I’d hate to stand in line for that job.