A tiny Frog found in a rainforest could have the cure for AI

[Jetfire]

A tiny Frog found in a rainforest could have the cure for AIDS:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/a ... ge_id=1770

(EDIT: Link fixed )


WOW. If this works.....

the theory to how it prevents AIDS is sound. Certainly sounds like it could work if the person isn't to far gone.

Mother nature still has more secrets than we would like to believe. Well I certainly thought so.

A little red-eyed frog could hold the key to ending the scourge of AIDS.
Scientists have found that a chemical in the skin of the Australian red-eyed tree frog can block infection by HIV - the virus that causes AIDS - by destroying the viral particles.

They hope further research could lead to an 'after-exposure' lotion to protect against HIV and AIDS.

The chemical is part of the 21/ 2in-long frog's defences. Special glands on their skin produce and store packets of the compound, which is released when they are injured or alarmed and acts to protect them from infection by killing fungi, bacteria and viruses.

The ability to target HIV was discovered when researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to investigate whether the chemical was effective against viruses that infect humans.

In tests using human immune system cells, the chemical killed HIV particles but left the immune cells unharmed. It is thought to work by damaging the membrane of each viral particle, either by punching holes which cause it to fall apart, or through a 'detergent effect' which

breaks apart fatty molecules in the membrane.

Research leader Dr Scott Van-Compernolle said: 'There are lots of substances which destroy viruses but the trick is finding one that doesn't also destroy the membrane of our cells. That is why these frog peptides are unique.'

Further tests showed the chemical could stop the virus being passed between cells, thus blocking

infection. The scientists infected cells with HIV, treated them with the frog chemical and then exposed them to healthy cells. The virus appeared to have vanished.

They hope it will be possible to develop a cream to target infected cells. Dr VanCompernolle said: 'It seems it would work really well in just the way the frogs use it - as a cream. We envisage something prophylactic so if you were exposed to

HIV through unprotected sex, you could use this cream or a suppository to give you a fairly high dose of the proteins in the region where you thought the virus might be.'

It could still be effective if used hours after exposure. 'We showed you can successfully treat the infected cells up to eight hours after they were exposed to the virus,' said Dr VanCompernolle. 'The virus has already got in those cells but this is still able to block the infection.' The scientists have now won a grant from the American Foundation for AIDS Research to continue the work. Its director of research, Dr Rowena Johnston, said no creams exist which could be applied to the body after exposure to HIV.

But she added: 'The first generation of these products is now not far from being developed. They could be applied prior to sex or perhaps taken in the same way as the contraceptive pill.

'Alternatively, if the woman is HIV positive, she could protect her partner from infection. It would be a fantastic tool for HIV prevention. We are so far from having an AIDS vaccine, we are not going to wait around for 15 years and do nothing in the meantime.'

But destruction of the rainforest in north Queensland, Australia, means there are declining numbers of red-eyed tree frogs, which have bright green backs, yellow sides, a cream belly and orange inside legs.

Dr VanCompernolle said: 'These frogs have evolved over millions of years to produce these peptides. They have already tested them for us, to fight their own viruses and bacteria. Around the world there are huge and rapid declines in the numbers of amphibian species. When we don't take care of the ecosystems we have on the planet we risk losing something like this.'

[Predabot]

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I think there was so many people excited by this worldwide that the central server for that site just buckled under 500 000 tons.

Anybody remember the vaccine that they are working on? I recalled a year ago or so, that they were finnally going to start testing on human-subjects. I believe it was created using the antibodies or such from prostitutes somewhere in south-america that were exposed so much to the virus, that they had evolved an immunity. If they didn't expose themselves enough tho, they lost the immunity rather quick.

EDIT: Sounds kick-ass. This could save many lives, applying the cream after inter-course. Hard to tell how it could be applied to those that have already developed AIDS? How do you spread the compound troughout the entire body? I'm guessing that this here frog-poison could probably be used against a number of other micro-organisms too.

[Guest]

G'day!


Feeling a bit crook, mate?


SPIDER-FROG!!!

[Impactor returns 2.0]

I think thats really cool - like many things nature generally has us licked..

[Kaylee]

I ran this past my contacts within the HIV charity I work for. I'm afraid it's hype.

For a start it's not in clinical trials, which will take years and are likely to prove it useless. For a second it is of no use to anyone who already has the disease and for a third it would only be of use to those who could access it and afford it, i.e. not the high risk areas of the world like Africa and China.

[Brendocon]

I ran this past my contacts within the HIV charity I work for. I'm afraid it's hype.

Person 1: "Hrm. This looks like it might be able to break down HIV. I must invesitage further..."
Person 2: "We've cured AIDS!"

Sounds about right.

Though I must admit that when I saw the thread title I thought we'd found a cure for Artificial Intelligence...

[Kaylee]

I thought it was about the Kubrick/Spielberg movie o.o

The big trick with HIV will be the cure, which is still 10 years away but will be found so I've been reliably informed from those who's knowledge I trust immensely.

In the meantime, antiretroviral drugs make the cure *almost* academic as they improve more, literally every other week. Within the last 20 years HIV has gone from being a certain death sentence in the VERY near future to being a lifelong condition more akin to diabetes (i.e. it *may* go wrong and kill you, but there's a pretty good chance you'll die of heart failure/whatever like everyone else). By the time the cure is discovered I'm sure the drugs will be so good it's almost redundant.

However the drugs are VERY expensive (whichever way you cut it) and I'm sure a cure would be just as cost prohibitive. Those on lower incomes or in developing countries would probably find themselves left out.

[Jazz]

cool

[KingMob]

Though I must admit that when I saw the thread title I thought we'd found a cure for Artificial Intelligence...

That was also my first thought...swiflty followed with wondering why anyone would want to cure Al from Quantum Leap...

Shame the story is vapour. Cool frog photos, though.

[Jetfire]

I ran this past my contacts within the HIV charity I work for. I'm afraid it's hype.

For a start it's not in clinical trials, which will take years and are likely to prove it useless.

No body is saying that. The idea is only just been given a grant to actually start the research. However the early research behind the mechanism is the first plausable technique which AIDS could be practically battled.

Antiviral drugs are increasingly effective but some strains the HIV virus, particulary the versions that are found in the far east have yet been somewhat less effectively by the drug cocktails.
Also the virus' tendency to mutate at amazing speeds to produce almost unreconisable strains means the current progression in anti-viral drugs could edventually lead to a dead end as it become resistant to the whole process and new methods of battleing it are required.

[Kaylee]

I ran this past my contacts within the HIV charity I work for. I'm afraid it's hype.

For a start it's not in clinical trials, which will take years and are likely to prove it useless.

No body is saying that. The idea is only just been given a grant to actually start the research. However the early research behind the mechanism is the first plausable technique which AIDS could be practically battled.

Antiviral drugs are increasingly effective but some strains the HIV virus, particulary the versions that are found in the far east have yet been somewhat less effectively by the drug cocktails.
Also the virus' tendency to mutate at amazing speeds to produce almost unreconisable strains means the current progression in anti-viral drugs could edventually lead to a dead end as it become resistant to the whole process and new methods of battleing it are required.

Even if after the years of clinical trials are over this actually works it is nothing to do with the battle against HIV. It's to do with preventing transmission- this does absolutely nothing whatsoever with regards to helping those who already have it.

There are already two techniques for preventing transmission, so it's hardly the first in the battle. Protecting against it is simple with either abstinence (which people here know my views on) and condoms. Both are cheap and simple to understand. Drugs are costly, require administration and are generally difficult to get to where they are needed.

So it's research into something which is already dealt with at least as well it would be if we had the drugs now and which would be more expensive than existing solutions. Meanwhile the actual disease itself is still uncured.

I can see a use for those minority of circumstances where a condom breaks or someone is stupid enough to have unprotected sex *provided* they can get to these drugs in time. It would do nothing for those who catch it by sharing needles or by infected blood stocks as by the time its detected its too late. And it would do nothing for those who can't get to the drugs (i.e. most of the world). Assuming it even works.

Personally imo that minority would be better served by finding a proper cure for the disease. I'm exceedingly uncomfortable with this rather horrific inference that we need to stop the disease spreading believing new (and imo pointless) methods of preventing transmission are more important than developing better drugs 'because one day the virus will mutate and become unstoppable' (which is pure speculation). Mainly because the implication of that is that the only practical solution to the crises is to let those who have it die without passing it on. I would honestly rather kill myself than consider that any sort of practical option.

We need meaningful research and development, not solutions to things which have already been addressed which are of benefit to a tiny fraction of the affected individuals yet consume valuable research time and efforts I think.

[wideload]

I thought it was about the Kubrick/Spielberg movie o.o

The big trick with HIV will be the cure, which is still 10 years away but will be found so I've been reliably informed from those who's knowledge I trust immensely.

In the meantime, antiretroviral drugs make the cure *almost* academic as they improve more, literally every other week. Within the last 20 years HIV has gone from being a certain death sentence in the VERY near future to being a lifelong condition more akin to diabetes (i.e. it *may* go wrong and kill you, but there's a pretty good chance you'll die of heart failure/whatever like everyone else). By the time the cure is discovered I'm sure the drugs will be so good it's almost redundant.

However the drugs are VERY expensive (whichever way you cut it) and I'm sure a cure would be just as cost prohibitive. Those on lower incomes or in developing countries would probably find themselves left out.

I've heard really bad things about these drugs. Like they cause chronic fatigue and nausea, one guy on the radio even said they are like being on chemotherapy all the time. Also I've heard some strains are becoming resistant.

I say the sooner the cure the better.

[sprunkner]

Yea, my excitement faded when they said, "Apply right after intercourse! Within the first few hours!"

Karl, I was wondering if you have some links to information about these drugs and the lifestyle of an HIV positive. I am writing a story about someone who is HIV positive and I want to know how much, at this point, it would interfere with your life.

Turtles,

Sprunken

[Kaylee]

Yea, my excitement faded when they said, "Apply right after intercourse! Within the first few hours!"

Karl, I was wondering if you have some links to information about these drugs and the lifestyle of an HIV positive. I am writing a story about someone who is HIV positive and I want to know how much, at this point, it would interfere with your life.

Turtles,

Sprunken

http://www.thebody.com/

Your lifestyle changes in so much as you may have side effects from the drugs, you need to take the drugs without fail exactly on schedule or they become useless and you need to adapt your lifestyle by changing diet and so forth to suit the drugs.

The situation in the West shouldn't be made out to be hopeless. Here you will get your drugs, even tho the US doesnt have an NHS they have a system whereby if you need lifesaving drugs such as antiretrovirals you will get them. You can live a normal life and have a relatively average lifespan. Lots of people don't. That's the awful situation that yourself or loved ones may be in and that's heart breaking enough without even considering what goes on in the 3rd world.

A cure is about 10 years away. I just have to pray that some people very dear to me can last that long. I'm sure if researchers all got together and decided it was a priority they could get the research done far faster- HIV and malaria could be wiped out I'm sure.