Bee venom cures HIV!!!

[anticipation]

Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV | Newsroom | Washington University in St. Louis

Originally Posted by http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/25061.aspx

Nanoparticles carrying a toxin found in bee venom can destroy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while leaving surrounding cells unharmed, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown. The finding is an important step toward developing a vaginal gel that may prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

“Our hope is that in places where HIV is running rampant, people could use this gel as a preventive measure to stop the initial infection,” says Joshua L. Hood, MD, PhD, a research instructor in medicine.

According to Hood, an advantage of this approach is that the nanoparticle attacks an essential part of the virus’ structure. In contrast, most anti-HIV drugs inhibit the virus’s ability to replicate. But this anti-replication strategy does nothing to stop initial infection, and some strains of the virus have found ways around these drugs and reproduce anyway.

“We are attacking an inherent physical property of HIV,” Hood says. “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.”

Beyond prevention in the form of a vaginal gel, Hood also sees potential for using nanoparticles with melittin as therapy for existing HIV infections, especially those that are drug-resistant. The nanoparticles could be injected intravenously and, in theory, would be able to clear HIV from the blood stream.

Finally these mafuckin' doctors got off their asses and did something awesome. Way to go Wash U MD's, now there shouldn't be any excuse to end the HIV epidemic in Africa. I'd imagine their crazy killer bees would not only cure you but make you able to fly and shit.

[Burning Down]

It's still just a theory though right? Have they tried this on humans yet? I imagine that this is also way more expensive than antiretroviral drugs but it looks more promising.

[Janszoon]

The thread title is kind of misleading but this is certainly interesting.

[Paul Smeenus]

Originally Posted by Janszoon

The thread title is kind of misleading but this is certainly interesting.

Yes, were it already a cure this would be the biggest news story ever. But it *is* the best news yet on HIV

[TheBig3]

Float like a butterfly, Sting like the cure for HIV.

It doesn't really have the same ring to it. But this is exciting news. I think we're living in amazing times and I anticipate technology, and its surging possibilities, really being able to undo the insurance industries throttle on "cures."