Antibody Kills 91% of HIV Strains

[swag]

Source: WSJ.com

By MARK SCHOOFS

In a significant step toward an AIDS vaccine, U.S. government scientists have discovered three powerful antibodies, the strongest of which neutralizes 91% of HIV strains, more than any AIDS antibody yet discovered.

Looking closely at the strongest antibody, they have detailed exactly what part of the virus it targets and how it attacks that site.

The antibodies were discovered in the cells of a 60-year-old African-American gay man, known in the scientific literature as Donor 45, whose body made the antibodies naturally. Researchers screened 25 million of his cells to find 12 that produced the antibodies. Now the trick will be for scientists to develop a vaccine or other methods to make anyone's body produce them.

That effort "will require work," said Gary Nabel, director of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who was a leader of the research. "We're going to be at this for a while" before any benefit is seen in the clinic, he said


Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703609004575355072271264394.html

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. !

[Fearless]

2. K&R!

[av8rdave]

3. Obviously, results from this will take some time, BUT

What a great milestone along the way!

[Laf.La.Dem.]

4. Good News!!!

Thank you "Donor 45":hi:

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. .

:bounce:

[DeSwiss]

6. K&R! n/t

[closeupready]

7. That's terrific news.

:)

[xchrom]

8. Here's to 45! Nt

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Knowledge = Life

Thank you Donor 45.

[BR_Parkway]

10. Wow, 25 million to find 12 cells - that's some patience - but great news

potentially

[Soylent Brice]

11. K&R

[bossy22]

12. excellent news!!!!!

[Ian David]

13. The vaccine works by giving the virus Autism. n/t

[KamaAina]

20. Oh SNAP!

:rofl:

[pinto]

30. Yeah, it's all internet fun and games until you get sick. Or you watch a healthy adult

die, weighing in @ 98 pounds. Or you walk with someone who's got a week or so to live.

I know you meant this as a joke about vaccines, in general, and some of the perceptions about them. I have AIDS and it really caught me off guard. Many of us have been on this roller coaster for years. Any real breakthroughs are welcomed, imho. However far down the road.

Sometimes even an offhand joke can hurt, as yours did.

Just wanted to let you know that.

:hi:

[racaulk]

40. +1

I am HIV-, but my partner is HIV+, so any breakthrough in the search for a cure affects me very personally as well. I know the post you replied to was meant as a joke, but I also found it crude and off-putting. Not to mention that autism isn't something to make fun of either. The joke wasn't funny at all. :thumbsdown:

[Ian David]

53. My apologies. I hope that this discovery bears fruit and soon. n/t

[foxfeet]

14. Bravo and thank you!

:applause:

[freethinker2]

15. This is great news for the world!

I do however have a question for the CREATIONISTS that may be here at DU. Why do you use science in your everyday life when you do everything, but when it comes down to EVOLUTION, a "scientific FACT" you tell science they are wrong? When the cure for AIDS is on the market would you use it "If need be" or would you still choose to pray?
Interesting question.
Just asking.

[SoapBox]

16. Keep those fingers crossed...

Let's hope that something comes of this...it could help or save millions of lives.

[great white snark]

17. Outstanding News!

Congrats to all and thank you Donor 45.

[nradisic]

18. Very cool indeed...

Wow....an AIDS vaccine in the near future? For someone who went to college during the mid 80's and thought AIDS may never be cured - we are damned close.

[Beetwasher]

19. Oh My, This Is Good News Indeed

Hope.

[Alpha Numeric Wanda]

47. Let's name a star after Donor 45!! (n/t)

[KamaAina]

21. Couldn't they just culture the cells to produce the antibodies directly?

:shrug:

[boppers]

42. Rarely do cells indefinitely survive.

The very few lines that have are considered near miraculous.

[MrMickeysMom]

46. Oh, my goodness, no...

... Would that it could- it takes very special treatments followed by controlled studies, which they must be in the early phase.

This is why it is so important to fund this work. How many have we lost? Can we can take the money from killing people for profit to save people who have contributed so much to us as a society? Jesus, I hope so, especially with this news

Here's to the fast track to wipe this disease out the right way!

[TheMadMonk]

50. Not easily. Most mamallian cells don't divide very fast, nor can they...

...do so indefinitely.

A bacteria will have to be engineered to produce the antibody in mass quantities. I don't think a "killed" virus presenting only that specific active site will cut it, since it appears that very few people have the necessary apparatus to actually construct this specific antibody.

[dorkulon]

22. Can't trust dem western medicines.

This is just a scientific conspiracy to distract us from the chanting and crystals that REALLY work!

:crazy:

[jimlup]

23. If it pans out - Excellent News!

[rasputin1952]

24. This is great news...

it's going to be a bit before trials though.

Next thing, what is it about these 12 cells that produce the antibody, can then be duplicated?

At least it's a start...:woohoo:

[Diane R]

25. One son doing HIV/AIDS work in the Peace Corps, and 1 son working w/ AIDS research. Great news.

[Autonomy]

26. Am I the only one thinking, "Oh, great, now for Super AIDS"?

[boppers]

43. The other 9% already exist.

Aids has *always* been Super AIDS, which is why it's been so hard to treat and cure.

[AllyCat]

27. US Government scientists? Well, they just don't do anything right do they?

Good on them. Hope this comes to something.

[Permanut]

28. Let's see, so maybe Falwell was wrong?

when he said "AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals, it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals." Turns out it might be a medical problem instead? Maybe his buddy Pat Robertson can get this news to him in hell; if not now, when he meets up with him later.

:sarcasm:

[LongTomH]

58. HIV is just a virus. Jerry Falwell is a punishment from God!

Actually, I stole that comment from Robert Anton Wilson; but, it fits so beautifully!

[pinto]

29. Fauci cited this research / finding as a significant step. He's been around the block with HIV,

I take his assessment as science based and good news.

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

[ZombieHorde]

31. Recommended. nt

[grahamhgreen]

32. Fantastic!

[Crowman1979]

33. I hope big pharma doesn't try to block this.

And if they do, then get your signs and megaphones ready.

[Dystopian]

34. KandR

peace~

[suffragette]

35. K&R

[Odin2005]

36. K&R

[madmax]

37. Great news!!

Remembering those dear friends who were among the first and have long left us too soon. :grouphug:

[diktablof]

38. I've seen too many "new-medicine-cures-cancer" news to be excited by this one

Color me skeptical.

[myrna minx]

39. k&R n/t

[stevedeshazer]

41. Great news, K& R n/t

[lonestarnot]

44. Right on Donor 45!

:applause:

[bertman]

45. Thanks for the good news. Rec. nt.

[BolivarianHero]

48. BUT WAIT...ITZ THE GOV'T...

SOCILISM!!!!

[alp227]

49. Good progress toward KO'ing AIDS.

But some conservatives/quacks now ask: "Won't there be more autism?" Others will look at this the same way as they see the HPV vaccine with the logic that vaccine will remove harm from immoral activity (HPV vaccine for premarital sex, this possible AIDS vaccine for homosexuality).

[Indianademocrat91]

51. Stop funding wars and fund this now!!

Even if it doesn't turn out 100% what we would like, it is a hell of a lot better then funding worthless wars!

[Q3JR4]

52. Great news!

I hope the research gets us where we want to go!

Q3JR4

[BEZERKO]

54. Sounds like good news

if it holds up.

[johnaries]

55. 91%?!?!??!?! That's AWESOME!

I know a lot of people are looking for 100%, but that simply doesn't exist. 91% is HUGE! Sorry, I meant to say HUGH! ;)

[David Zephyr]

56. Notice that it was "government scientists" that made the discovery, NOT private enterprise.

Great news. Focus on those carrying the HIV virus, but who also had "elite controllers" but also had powerful antibodies that prevented them from getting sick, antibodies that actually kill the virus has been the brightest spot of hope and this wonderful story just takes this focus another great leap.

I'm surprised that the Wall Street Journal even included the adjective "government" before the word scientists. Apparently, their editors were asleep at the wheel.

Here's to government scientists!

[Electric Monk]

57. k&r

Excellent news. Lets hope it pans out.

[BreweryYardRat]

59. EXCELLENT.

Now, let's see that cure!

[Kurska]

60. Awesome advancement on this front.

It should help greatly to treat those already ill (dare I say a cure?) and to develop a vaccination.