Aussie scientists stumble across HIV therapy

[davidinalameda]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=5&ObjectID=10113006

Australian scientists have accidentally stumbled upon a simple way to dramatically stimulate immunity to deadly viruses like HIV in what's considered a major discovery in the fight against Aids.

The researchers were initially so taken aback by their chance find, they repeated the study several times before they could convince themselves it actually worked.

"We just couldn't believe it," said Stephen Kent, of the University of Melbourne's Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

[fob]

1. Wow. Here's hoping that breakthrough is fully realized as quickly as

possible.

[papau]

2. WOW - peptide coating may be able to treat Hep C(a common cancer cure side

effect)

==================

The therapy would involve injections of the patient's own blood after it is treated with peptides found on the surface of cells infected by the virus.

<snip>Prof Kent said the therapy had even proved effective against drug-resistant forms of the disease.

<snip>The researchers have aptly named the therapy - Overlapping Peptide Autologous Cells (OPAL) - in line with its Australian origins.

Their study - a collaboration with the Australian National University's John Curtin School of Medical Research - has been published in the latest international Journal of Virology.

<snip>Prof Kent said the therapy had also shown promise as a treatment for other chronic infections like Hepatitis C.

[Warpy]

4. HepC is a virus. It has nothing to do with cancer or cancer cures.

HepC is generally transmitted by blood transfusion or by infected IV drug addicts who share needles. It is theoretically an STD, but no documented cases have ever been found of transmission by sex.

[papau]

6. Sorry - while true it is a virus - many cancer treatment folks end up with

it.

Nothing to do with the treatment per see - but the repeated cancer chemo procedure (including blood drawn weekly)leaves one open to an error that leads to Hep C.

So like I said - it is a "side effect" - not "caused by" - but resulting from - for a lot of folks.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. What an amazing find!

Let's hope it soon becomes a reality.

[HereSince1628]

5. Any immunologists out there? I have a question...

Are they saying that they used RBC's as antigen presenting cells? Or

[prodigal_green]

7. The best discoveries are often

mistakes. Wasn't the glue used on post-its supposed to be a super-adhesive or is that just apocryphal.

[HawkerTyphoon]

8. Isn't there a quote...

that goes something like:

Science is not so much a "Eureka!" activity, but more like "Isn't this strange?..."

[phantom power]

9. Yes, it goes like this:

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" but rather, "Hmmm... that's funny..."
-- Isaac Asimov

[HawkerTyphoon]

10. That's it

Thanks