Breast milk, bee venom and bone marrow transplants – the different things that could cure HIV/AIDS!

Scientists have for the first time identified a protein in breast milk that neutralises HIV and may protect babies from acquiring the virus from their infected mothers. The protein, called Tenascin-C or TNC, had previously been recognised as playing a role in wound healing, but had not been known to have antimicrobial properties. The discovery could lead to potential new HIV-prevention strategies. Researchers found the TNC protein in breast milk binds to and neutralises the HIV virus, protecting exposed infants who might otherwise become infected from repeated exposures to the virus.

‘Even though we have antiretroviral drugs that can work to prevent mother-to-child transmission, not every pregnant woman is being tested for HIV, and less than 60 per cent are receiving the prevention drugs, particularly in countries with few resources,’ said senior study author. ‘So there is still a need for alternative strategies to prevent mother-to-child transmission, which is why this work is important,’ she said.

In their study, the team screened mature milk samples from uninfected women for neutralising activity against a panel of HIV strains, confirming that all of the detectable HIV-neutralisation activity was contained in the high molecular weight portion. Using a multi-step protein separation process, the researchers narrowed the detectable HIV-neutralisation activity to a single protein, and identified it as TNC.

Should we be optimistic or cautious? This isn’t the first time that we’ve been presented with tales that an HIV cure is on its way. The most famous of them are: 

 The Berlin Patient Case – Leukaemia

For a long time researchers believed there was no cure. Even five years ago, a scientist who wanted to work on HIV cure research was laughed at. But all that changed with the Berlin Patient. He – an HIV-positive man who developed leukaemia. After first-line cancer treatments failed, a bone marrow transplant procedure was done. Two transplants later, not only was his leukaemia in remission, his immune system actually managed to ward off HIV. He no longer takes antiretroviral drugs or tests positive for HIV. Essentially, he was cured.  

Bee venom to cure HIV?

A study suggested that bee venom might have the potency to kill the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Researchers had demonstrated that a toxin called melittin which is found in bee venom is the reason for this. The researchers used nanoparticle technology to target the virus. Particles smaller than HIV were infused with bee venom and since HIV cells are smaller than normal body cells the nanoparticles only targeted HIV.

‘Melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral envelope,’ said research instructor. ‘The melittin forms little pore-like attack complexes and ruptures the envelope, stripping it off the virus.’ Adding, ‘We are attacking an inherent physical property of HIV. Theoretically, there isn’t any way for the virus to adapt to that. The virus has to have a protective coat, a double-layered membrane that covers the virus.’

Stem cell therapy to overcome HIV?

In a path-breaking breakthrough two people were believed to have overcome HIV after undergoing stem-cell therapy! The news has met with widespread elation with experts believing that a cure might be on the cards. Doctors announced  that two previously HIV-positive patients no longer had detectable virus levels in their blood or tissue after having bone marrow stem-cell transplants to treat cancer between two and four years ago.

Aggressive antiretroviral treatment 

There were reports in March 2013 of a toddler who was completely cured of the virus after being born of it. She has been cured of the disease after following an aggressive regime of drugs. This was the second documented case of a person being completely cured of the virus after an adult known as the Berlin Patient was cured as a result of bone-marrow transplant. This startling piece of information was discovered when the baby’s mother stopped treatment and doctors lost track of the baby who was given a bout of heavy drugs (current procedure suggests only a modest daily dose of antiretroviral treatment) about 30 hours after she was born at a rural hospital, doctors said at a medical meeting. However, a doctor poured cold water on cold water on what was termed ‘the greatest medical breakthrough of the century’.  

In his piece, the Dr.   pointed out in his column, exposure to HIV doesn’t mean that the baby will have HIV. ‘We will likely never know if those cells were from the child or maternal cell that has been transmitted during pregnancy or birth.’ When a child is born, he or she has some maternal cells in his system so it’s impossible to tell whether the child actually had HIV or not, or the tests detected the maternal HIV positive cells.

The MX2 gene

According to a study published , scientists have discovered a new gene which can inhibit the HIV virus from spreading after it has entered the body.  It was conducted by introducing the virus to two separate lines of human cells. On one line, they introduced the MX2 gene along with the virus, while on the other they didn’t. The line on which the MX2 gene was introduced, it was seen that the virus had stopped replicating. 

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