Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have recently found a new way to fight HIV. The new method involves manipulating the virus' codons to rely on an unnatural amino acid for proper protein translation. However, because this amino acid is foreign to the body is is an adaptive immunity. Adaptive immunity is when the body's immune system develops antibodies that attack the virus. The virus is then shut off from replicating by removing the amino acid. This method uses the actual virus as part of the cure. However, using an weakened form of the virus in a vaccine has not been accomplished before because even a weakened form of the HIV replicates rapidly, and allows it to evolve quickly and regain is virulence and disease-causing ability.
NOS:
Science is collaborative- There have already been many tests in other countries trying to cure HIV.
Role of skepticism- The scientists tried a new way to cure HIV and got positive results.
Science is based on evidence- There is evidence that changing the codons of the HIV helps the body fight it.
-Tyler Welder
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529142544.htm
Great article! I further researched into this topic and found that his most successful vaccination attempt in humans was a trial in Thailand. He had about a 31 percent efficacy rate. But that vaccine used engineered versions of HIV genes and proteins, rather than the actual virus. According to Li the science tells that a vaccine would work best to stop the pandemic and possibly eliminate the disease. But a downside is that using a live virus in a human trial has safety concerns.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is a really great breakthrough in prevention of HIV and AIDS. I think that it is an extremely risky process when it involves such a dangerous virus. It is something that probably won't be tested on humans because it can be disastrous if the tests were to fail. I thought that this was a very interesting article.
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