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Africa: Daily HIV/Aids Report
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Kaisernetwork.org (Washington, DC)
30 April 2008
Posted to the web 30 April 2008
Science & Medicine
Suppression of Human Protein Reduces HIV's Ability To Enter T Cells, Replicate, Study Finds
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Across The Nation
Salt Lake Tribune Examines Enforcement of Utah Law Requiring Mandatory HIV Tests for Convicted Sex Workers, Solicitors
Recent Releases
GAO Reports Examine PEPFAR Funding Allocation
Science & Medicine
Suppression of Human Protein Reduces HIV's Ability To Enter T Cells, Replicate, Study Finds
[Apr 30, 2008]
Researchers have found that suppressing the human protein ITK in CD4+ T cells reduces HIV's ability to enter the cells and replicate, according to an NIH study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Reuters reports.
For the study, Pamela Schwartzberg of Boston University and colleagues used human cells in a laboratory to test two methods of inactivating ITK. One method stopped ITK from functioning. In the other method, the researchers used a drug to chemically interfere with the protein (Dunham, Reuters, 4/28). "Suppression of the ITK protein caused many of the pathways that HIV uses to be less active, thereby inhibiting or slowing HIV replication," the researchers said (AFP/Google.com, 4/28). Schwartzberg added that the researchers did not "completely block (infection), but we certainly severely impaired it. It has minor effects at multiple stages of HIV life cycle, and together that all adds up to a more profound effect" (Reuters, 4/28).
The researchers said that they were concerned that ITK suppression "might kill or otherwise impair the normal functions of T cells." However, both suppression methods slowed HIV replication but did not interfere "significantly" with T cell survival, according to the study. In addition, the researchers said that mice with ITK deficiencies were able to fight other viral infections (AFP/Google.com, 4/28).
According to the PA/Google.com, ITK suppression could help address the emergence of drug-resistant strains of HIV because it targets a human protein rather than the virus (PA/Google.com, 4/28). Study researcher Andrew Henderson of Boston University added that treatments based on ITK suppression could complement existing antiretroviral drugs. Schwartzberg said that it likely would be several years before a drug that suppresses ITK could enter human clinical trials. She added that more lab experiments are needed to assess other ways of suppressing the protein.
NIH and the researchers have filed for a patent on suppressing ITK to treat HIV with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The protein also is being examined as a possible target to treat asthma and other illnesses involving the immune system, Reuters reports (Reuters, 4/28).
The study is available online (.pdf).
Link to this story.
Global Challenges
Global Climate Change To Increase Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS of People in Developing Countries, Panel Says
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[Apr 30, 2008]
Climate change is the newest threat to the increasing HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide, panelists said Wednesday at an HIV forum at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, the AAP/Age reports (McLean, AAP/Age, 4/30).
The forum, titled "A Future Free of HIV," was moderated by Justice of the High Court Michael Kirby and included several HIV/AIDS researchers, according to a UNSW release. Topics covered at the forum included the social and human rights implications of HIV, the latest scientific perspectives on the disease, and the social and behavioral aspects of the epidemic (UNSW release, 4/30).
Subject: Ambush...Jamaica Gleaner Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:34:01 +0000
Jamaican-born pharmacist has cure for AIDS? published: Monday | April 14, 2008
Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer
MISHE
Since the mid-1980s, the scourge of AIDS has been taking its toll on the minds, bodies and lives of millions worldwide. Scientists are working to find a cure. As they do so, a Jamaican living in the United States has been saying for quite a while now, look no farther, the 'cure' is already available. He said it was sent to him by God.
"I did not come up with this 'cure'... [Read Full Text]
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