First of all I am not sure if this is how or where I am suppose to post this information but I hope that you enjoy reading it anyway.
I found an article on the web about two new antibodies that have been found to cripple HIV. I will try to keep it simple as much of the information is very medical. Apparently The Scripps Research Institue and the biotechnology companies Theraclone Sciences and Monogram Biosciences have made a discovery of two new antibodies that seem to put a kink in the HIV virus and they are hoping that they can form a vaccine with these antibodies.
The goal is to have our bodies neutralize any and all HIV infections via the new vaccines. These new antibodies known as PG9 and PG16 have shown real promise by "targeting a region of the viral spike used by HIV to infect cells" (Web: zikkir).
Christos Petropoulos, chief scientific officer and vice president of virology research and development at Monogram Biosciences compares the finding of the new antibodies to that of a fishing expedition, "we and the rest of the field were previously using the wrong bait in the search for HIV-specific boradly neutralizing antibodies" (Web: zikkir). He attributes this finding to the global abilities and input from many of those who work within the HIV field and those who do not.
I think this is exciting news even though there is no mention in the article when they think a vaccine would be available. Finding a preventative measure for HIV/AIDS would be great. I would still like to find research on a cure or a way to irradicate the disease from this earth.
Web:zikkir, (2009). Two New Antibodies Found to Cripple HIV, retrieved Sept. 13, 2009, from http://zikkir.com/index/32897
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This column is suppose to be part of your weekly blog and it need only be a few sentences. Like Did You Know that there are two new antibodies that have been discovered that target HIV? They are PG9 and PG16. If you want more information go to - then put in the link. Do I take it you are going to specialize in this for the semester? Finding ways to outsmart HIV? It would be a great addition to your blog.
ReplyDeleteThe Georgia AIDS Coalition was also to be a part of your weekly blog, not a separate blog entry. I also want to know what is happening in your life, with respect to HIV and this course, weekly. This will show me how you are growing over the semester. So no need to separate out everything. Just make it all a part of your weekly blog. Then students can reply to one blog entry instead of several.
Nice find on the two antibodies. I had not heard of these two. I'll go read the article to learn more.
After reading yours and a few other blogs it is comforting to know that there are so many people out there passionate about finding a cure. I think your going to find plenty of information on continuing research and break throughs in the field of HIV cures. By the way I think you did a really good job at putting the information about the antibodies into terms I can understand. Like you said a lot of the information that comes out with these possible cures and vaccines are technical, medical, chemistry and biology terms that are very difficult to understand. I may not understand the science of it all but like I said before it's great to hear that breakthroughs are happening on the way to finding a solution in stopping HIV. I appreciate the dedication and passion these scientists have for finding a cure.
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