Hopes for a Cure

[marutidas]

Scientists find chink in HIV's armor
published Thursday, February 15, 2007

An image released Thursday by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reveals a vulnerability in the ever-powerful AIDS virus. Unlike the rest of the mutating virus, one key portion on the surface of HIV has been found to be stable and, more important, penetrable by the HIV-fighting antibody b12.

The finding has profound implications for developing an AIDS vaccine. "NIH researchers and their colleagues have revealed a gap in HIV's armor," said NIH director Elias A. Zerhouni in a written statement, "and have thereby opened a new avenue to meeting that challenge."

AIDS vaccine developers have long been frustrated by the endless ways HIV eludes natural and pharmacological-induced immune responses. Not only does HIV mutate rapidly and continuously, but the virus is coated with an impenetrable coat of sugary molecules, which block access by antibodies.

However, certain parts of the virus remain immutable in order to bind and penetrate human cells. One of these regions, gp120, protrudes from the surface of the HIV molecule and has become the hot spot for vaccines to target.

This latest study, published in the current issue of Nature, has revealed the detailed structure of HIV that's formed when the antibody b12, an effective defense against HIV, binds with the gp120 protein. Researchers hope that the image will yield information on how to best fight HIV.

Revealing a "critical area of vulnerability on the virus," study coauthor Dr. Gary Nabel told the BBC, "is certainly one of the best leads to come along in recent years." (The Advocate)

[keltic63]

this is good news, no?

will this mean that AIDS will be eliminated? will this mean that we will do away with safer sex practices? would that be a good thing? I'm not so sure. I do hope that a cure, or an advance in treatment, would not result in a return to dangerous behaviors.

I've got some concerns about how this new discovery will be treated politically. I could imagine that it would meet with quiet resistance since AIDS is a weapon in the anti-gay arsenal.

chime in here folks!

[nmwolfboy]

This certainly is news (cautiously) celebrated in our home. My partner is a long-term AIDS survivor, having become sero-positive in late 1981. It's only within the past 10 years that his infection progressed to the point of requiring western meds - the 'cocktails'. Before that he managed it with Chinese Medicine & amazing support from many well-informed people.

While he's in awesomely great health, the current meds exact a heavy physical toll, and the side effects can be horrible. Still, he wouldn't still be alive today without the advances in care that have already come to pass.

Any new breakthrough that could lead to a better & safer way to manage AIDS is good news. We remain cautiously optimistic, because there have been other touted breakthroughs that have yet to manifest any of their early promises.

i still fervently pray that there will be a cure. This latest news raises my hopes more than previous breakthroughs have done.

[tpdncr4christ]

finally something not depressing about aids...

[Daniel]

I heard about this last night when watching Gay Cable Network here in NYC with Andy Humm and Ann Northrop. From what I heard, there is hope that this could lead to new treatment for those already infected- a booster type injection to keep one's infection under control.

[Emproph]

I’ve been thinking about this more along metaphorical lines, as far as religious dogma goes... As in the idea of a dogma vaccine.

Unlike the rest of the mutating virus, one key portion on the surface of HIV has been found to be stable, and more important, penetrable.

And what’s the ONE part of ‘fundamentalist Christians' that is "found to be stable?" – The need to be right. Often thought of as evangelism, or in our case, the need to show us we're "sinners."

Their only (religiously dogmatic) constant is that they are programmed to convince. They LOVE to show others that they're right. My problem has been that I am the same way too.

So with that spiritually non-violent notion (and I'm thinking more along equality-rider-face-to-face-lines..), what if we just continued to keep asking them questions to help them to convince "us" of their truth, no matter how unfruitful the outcome?

Eventually their need for answers (to convince us) will outweigh their desire to convince us.

There's no anger because the attitude is that they truly haven't convinced me that I'm sinning, I just keep asking HOW I'm sinning. As long as that's made known without offense, the burden of proof will be accepted. Remember, we're already "worse" than atheists, 'prove your belief in God/The Bible' is THE most legitmate demand. In other words, convince me.

Obviously to be said and pursued in much more sensitive terms, but would that not encapsulate the essence of non-violent resistence? The reason for the relentlessness of our resistence would be in understanding that our power lies in asking the questions that can’t be answered -- in continually giving them the "power" to provide those ANSWERS. (And obviously confronting them when they are not answered, and continuing to ask)

I've performed this once and it worked, but it could be done much more effectively. You just need to know what your doing -- logically/Biblically etc., and spiritually non-violently.

As long as we're asking questions, they'll be asking questions as to how to answer them. That's the chink in their armor.

As Alexandra Pelosi said in regard to her movie “Friends of God (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16792629/site/newsweek/page/3/)” :
Sometimes I spent a week talking to people so they were comfortable with me before I pulled out my camera. And don’t forget that their job is to evangelize. It’s their job to spread the word.
..like a virus. But in this case, it's their "job" to keep their penetrable status stable. (actually it's our job to show them that without them knowing it)

There's an epiphany in there somewhere, help me out here people.. :D

[marutidas]

The only thing is to give the truth without bias, without emotion. And stop trying to "convince" these people who want to stay blind to the truth. While I believe that some in the conservitive movement are ignorant of all the facts, and only follow what they think thier, "Kind and Loving" church leaders say, I however, don't believe for a second that these leaders are not wise to the truth.

If you tell a big enough lie and keep repeating it, people will eventually start to believe it, and the lie can only be maintain as long as you can protect people from the consequenses of the lie.

How can we keep our credibility if we attack them in the same manner?
If they continually back up their claims with only six versus compaired to mountains of, psycological, sociological and pathological reaseach. Then that is the greatest truth we have.

With any "cure", one has to focus on the best way to administer, The first and hardest part is with open arms, without anger or bias, we have to say the truth. And do nothing to retailiate verbally or other wise.

[Zerbie]

The only thing is to give the truth without bias, without emotion. And stop trying to "convince" these people who want to stay blind to the truth. While I believe that some in the conservitive movement are ignorant of all the facts, and only follow what they think thier, "Kind and Loving" church leaders say, I however, don't believe for a second that these leaders are not wise to the truth.

If you tell a big enough lie and keep repeating it, people will eventually start to believe it, and the lie can only be maintain as long as you can protect people from the consequenses of the lie.

How can we keep our credibility if we attack them in the same manner?
If they continually back up their claims with only six versus compaired to mountains of, psycological, sociological and pathological reaseach. Then that is the greatest truth we have.

With any "cure", one has to focus on the best way to administer, The first and hardest part is with open arms, without anger or bias, we have to say the truth. And do nothing to retailiate verbally or other wise.

Excellent post MD!!!!!!! 5 golden carrots. :D

Truly. Beautiful.

Thank you.

[Emproph]

Excellent post MD!!!!!!! 5 golden carrots. :D

Truly. Beautiful.

Thank you.
I wasn’t expecting it to but what you said has been slowly sinking in over the past couple of days marutidas – it was a creeper, but in a good way of course. ;)

The profoundness of the simplicity of the truth of it, It just stands.

Thanks for the lesson in effective delivery, I think that’s what I’m looking for. :love:

[scott snedeker]

I don't think we need a deadly virus to enforce safer sex. that is change through fear. I want to see it through better self-esteem so that gay folks make better decisions from a sense of entitlement to equal privilege.

(I know my broken record playing)

Marut,

Do you have a link to this topic?

[Daniel]

How can we keep our credibility if we attack them in the same manner?
If they continually back up their claims with only six versus compared to mountains of, psychological, sociological and pathological research. Then that is the greatest truth we have.

Yes! Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes to this. The mountain of information/date that has been rendered through objective study amounts to indisputable facts. Like'em or not, they exist independent of one's opinion about them- like gravity and the law of thermodynamics.

Bravo Maritudas!

[keltic63]

Yes! Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes to this. The mountain of information/date that has been rendered through objective study amounts to indisputable facts. Like'em or not, they exist independent of one's opinion about them- like gravity and the law of thermodynamics.

Bravo Maritudas!


Yet, some very influential people continue to operate on the foundation of "my mind is made up; don't confuse me with the facts." their followers believe the propaganda, often never questioning the "information" they have received about lgbt people. That's what worries me.

[Daniel]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070305/hl_hsn/scientistsdiscovernaturalbarriertohiv;_ylt=AuOSGT2 3wQQXTBtz0M.KpvWs0NUE


Scientists Discover 'Natural Barrier' to HIV

By E.J. Mundell
HealthDay Reporter Mon Mar 5, 2:02 PM ET

MONDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have discovered that cells in the mucosal lining of human genitalia produce a protein that "eats up" invading HIV -- possibly keeping the spread of the AIDS more contained than it might otherwise be.

Even more important, enhancing the activity of this protein, called Langerin, could be a potent new way to curtail the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, the Dutch scientists added.

[Sissy Riffin]

I fear this will be treated just as the HPV virus vaccine. The Neocons/Fundamentalists claim the HPV Vaccine would encourage promiscuity therefore young girls and women should be denied a vaccine to prevent the Human Papaloma Virus. It is medieval in concept...choosing death over promiscuity! Imagine if HIV/AIDS infected girls and woman had been given that vaccine and never suffer the HPV opportunistic virus! With this block to sane medicine and health concepts there will be even more suffering!

We need these vaccines and we desperately need approval of Human Sexuality studies geared to reach children age 12 through adulthood. One does not have to be carelessly promiscuous they only have to be infected by a trusted mate. lover, life partner, husband or wife! It is not the fear of a return to self destructive behavior, but the reality that education can reach the level of preventative behavior that will have a positive impact! Hopefully!





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL