The Conservative Cave

Interests => Health & Fitness => Topic started by: Chris_ on September 25, 2013, 09:53:06 PM

Title: Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells
Post by: Chris_ on September 25, 2013, 09:53:06 PM: Quote
Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells

The topical anti-fungal drug Ciclopirox causes HIV-infected cells to commit suicide by jamming up the cells’ powerhouse, the mitochondria — according to a study by researchers at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. And unlike current anti-HIV drugs, Ciclopirox completely eradicates infectious HIV from cell cultures, with no rebound of virus when the drug is stopped. The study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The treatment of patients with HIV has been revolutionized by the advent of combination anti-retroviral drugs. But although these drugs are highly effective at keeping HIV at bay, they must be taken for the life of the patient and never eliminate the infection completely. This is illustrated by the often rapid resurgence of virus in patients who stop taking these medications. The persistence of HIV is partially due to the ability of the virus to disable the cell’s altruistic suicide pathway, which is normally activated when a cell becomes infected or damaged.
Rutgers (http://news.rutgers.edu/news-release/drug-found-eradicate-hiv-permanently-infected-cells/20130924#.UkN9AK6vdGg)

Interesting.
Title: Re: Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells
Post by: thundley4 on September 25, 2013, 09:57:17 PM: Hasn't the HIV virus shown a propensity for rapid mutation?
Title: Re: Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells
Post by: obumazombie on September 25, 2013, 10:26:22 PM: I hope this drug is efficacious as an antiviral on many more destructive viruses.
Title: Re: Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells
Post by: IassaFTots on September 26, 2013, 07:47:09 AM: Quote from: obumazombie on September 25, 2013, 10:26:22 PM
I hope this drug is efficacious as an antiviral on many more destructive viruses.

Yes.
Title: Re: Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells
Post by: Wineslob on September 26, 2013, 09:39:50 AM: Quote from: thundley4 on September 25, 2013, 09:57:17 PM
Hasn't the HIV virus shown a propensity for rapid mutation?

I believe so.
Title: Re: Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells
Post by: Eupher on September 26, 2013, 10:26:51 AM: I'm by no means any sort of expert, but the very nature of viruses reveals that they mutate very quickly. Which is one reason why there's no cure for the common cold.

The rhinovirus changes its genetic makeup quicker than you can sneeze.
Title: Re: Drug Is Found to Eradicate HIV Permanently from Infected Cells
Post by: obumazombie on September 26, 2013, 10:55:53 PM: My sense regarding viruses is that they are either undetectable by the immune system, or detected but not identified as a foreign body. Therefore they are accepted and allowed to duplicate and go on about their destructive ways.