Vaginal Proteins In HIV-resistant Prostitutes Suggest New Prevention Measures

[*Nikki*]

Vaginal Proteins In HIV-resistant Prostitutes Suggest New Prevention Measures

Vaginal Proteins In HIV-resistant Prostitutes Suggest New Prevention Measures

ScienceDaily (Sep. 2, 2008) — Researchers in Canada report discovery of unusual proteins in a small group of Kenyan sex workers that appear to be associated with resistance to infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The discovery could lead to the improved design of vaccines and drugs to fight the deadly virus, which infects an estimated 40 million people worldwide, the scientists say in a new report.

In the new study, Adam Burgener and colleagues note that 140 of more than 2000 sex workers studied in Nairobi, Kenya, appear resistant to HIV infection. Although evidence suggests that certain biological factors in their vaginal fluid may play a role in resistance, the exact identity of these substances was unclear.

The scientists used a high-tech analytical method to compare differences among proteins in vaginal fluids from HIV-resistant women and those infected with the virus or susceptible to it. HIV-resistant women had proteins significantly different from other women. Vaginal fluids of the HIV-resistant women had higher levels of proteins with anti-viral and anti-inflammatory actions.

These proteins could be used as the basis for new medications to prevent infection, the scientists suggest.

[abaya]

Nikki, what are your thoughts on the article?

[telekinetic]

My reaction to this headline:























Article seems interesting. Hopefully they can do something better with this than make an antiHIV douche. Honestly, I'm surprised that 100% of the living prostitutes in Kenya aren't HIVproof. Wasn't there some couple in Europe where the wife still didn't have HIV despite years of exposure?

[Reese]

ok! I'm totally patenting an HIV prevention cream. "Made with Real Kenyan Prostitute Vaginal fluid!" Apply twice daily! I just need a catchy name!

[LoganSnake]

So, um, how did they find them?

[ratbastid]

This is among the recent breakthroughs in HIV prevention or post-infection cure. I'd be surprised if HIV was with us for more than another five years or so.

Of course, something equally devastating will inevitably rise to take its place. But as the good Dennis Leary said, "When they cure AIDS... If you can't get laid that day, just give it up!"

[*Nikki*]

I'm sorry I had posted my thoughts right under the article, don't know what happened to them

Anyhow I posted this because when I read this I thought of evolution. The human race will survive. We will overcome every curve that is throw our way, even something as devastating as AIDS. Just give us some time and our bodies will find a way around the problem.

[Willravel]

GO "WHORES" (or the politically correct "sex workers")! I knew you guys would save the world some day.

This really is fascinating, awesome even. Someone just the other day asked if I thought we could cure HIV in our lifetime. We're getting closer and closer, and it appears that human evolution could play a part in immunity. I'd love to see if they can figure out which mutation specifically made the proteins resistant.

[ASU2003]

I have the wrong job. Wouldn't that be funny seeing a help wanted ad for someone to collect vaginal secretions?

There were some people in England that also had a mutated gene that made it impossible for them to get AIDS because the virus couldn't enter into the cell. Hopefully all of this research will lead to a treatment and vaccine.

[telekinetic]

Originally Posted by LoganSnake

So, um, how did they find them?

Wanted: Kenyan Hookers. Must be willing to go bareback, have at least two years of experience, and be alive.

[*Nikki*]

Originally Posted by ASU2003

I have the wrong job. Wouldn't that be funny seeing a help wanted ad for someone to collect vaginal secretions?

There were some people in England that also had a mutated gene that made it impossible for them to get AIDS because the virus couldn't enter into the cell. Hopefully all of this research will lead to a treatment and vaccine.

I wonder also who heads up these studies. They must offer some $$ and run an ad in the paper for people to come in and have their V-Jays swabbed

[ObieX]

Originally Posted by ASU2003

There were some people in England that also had a mutated gene that made it impossible for them to get AIDS because the virus couldn't enter into the cell. Hopefully all of this research will lead to a treatment and vaccine.

From what i heard that resistance is partially due to the black plague spreading through Europe. Apparently they are missing a certain receptor on the white blood cell that HIV attaches The lack of this receptor helped with resistance to the plague. Perhaps the prostitutes have something similar that blocks the receptor like they try to do with current HIV treatments.

Just one more reason to go down on your lady.

[Merlocke]

wait wait - how would you even go about testing HIV resistance without running around stabbing people with HIV? I mean - what day 1: stabby stabby, day 2: can we uh, have a blood sample? yeah, thanks.

[sadistikdreams]

Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew ew ew ew ewewewewew! ewe? Ewe?

[ASU2003]

Originally Posted by Merlocke

wait wait - how would you even go about testing HIV resistance without running around stabbing people with HIV? I mean - what day 1: stabby stabby, day 2: can we uh, have a blood sample? yeah, thanks.

The idea is that these women have been working in the sex industry long enough that they have had to come across someone with HIV, probably multiple times.

I wonder if they could take a blood sample back to a petri dish and thrown in some HIV and look at it under a microscope to figure out if it has infected the cells or not?

[little_tippler]

ASU2003, that sounds like the most likely kind of experiment to have been carried out. Even if the prostitutes were willing, I imagine legally it would be complicated to even be allowed to carry out tests through subjecting the actual women to HIV exposure.

This sounds really interesting, and I hope it does provide the world with a way to combat HIV soon. As for 5 years...I still believe that's wishful thinking. These things take years to develop, then another few years to test, then some more to be available, and then yet more to be affordable.

[stevie667]

Both disgusting and highly interesting at the same time. Sort of like a car crash.

[inBOIL]

Originally Posted by Merlocke

wait wait - how would you even go about testing HIV resistance without running around stabbing people with HIV? I mean - what day 1: stabby stabby, day 2: can we uh, have a blood sample? yeah, thanks.

New drugs/vaccines/procedures are often tested by administerting treatment to an at-risk group, then following up later and comparing infection rates between those recieving treatment and those recieving placebo. The idea is that they're already exposing themselves to disease, so you're not endangering them.

[TheProf]

This is an interesting find. What would be more interesting would be to learn if the resistance was specific to a strain/strains of HIV, or is something that is able to work at a a higher level and block all forms of HIV. Given the retrovirus nature of HIV, the latter is more useful than the former.

[Ayashe]

Fascinating, hopefully some good comes out of this discovery. Unfortunately, these things take years to process. Even if a cure or vaccine comes out of this somehow I can imagine the next group of angry mothers screaming loudly against the newest vaccine.

[tisonlyi]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

Of course, something equally devastating will inevitably rise to take its place. But as the good Dennis Leary said, "When they cure AIDS... If you can't get laid that day, just give it up!"

Grrr.... More Bill Hicks stuff credited to Mr Plagiarist, Dennis Leary.

This contains swears, NSFW probably:

YouTube - Bill Hicks - Aids!

YouTube - Bill Hicks - Aids!

-----Added 14/9/2008 at 05 : 18 : 33-----

Originally Posted by LoganSnake

So, um, how did they find them?

I've seen articles and documentaries following similar cases.

Basically, there are people who work with these ladies over time. Most of the women die in fairly short order, but some don't. Scientists are informed or arrive to investigate any anomalies. So yeah, some people who work with the prostitutes - perhaps religious folk - 'track' what happens to these women, unofficially.

Voila.