I found this on French Yahoo and got a copy in English.
I guess that’s good news for millions of people. That’s the way I like America!!!!
===================================================================
Proteins May Block HIV Progression
Fri Sep 27, 2:20 AM ET
By PAUL RECER, AP Science Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) – In research that solves a 16-year medical mystery, scientists have identified a group of proteins that inhibit the progression of HIV ( news – web sites) in people who are resistant to the virus that causes AIDS ( news – web sites).
The study, using a new protein-identification tool, identified the proteins in a disease-blocking substance, called CAF. Researchers discovered in 1986 that CAF was secreted in the blood of “long-term progressors” — patients infected with HIV who never get sicker and never develop full-blown AIDS. But efforts to unlock the proteins in CAF have failed, until now.
Researchers at Rockefeller University and the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in New York said the proteins in CAF are part of a large family of disease-fighters known as alpha-defensins. These natural antibiotics were first discovered in 1985 and were known to play a role in protecting the body from bacteria and infections. The new study finds they also inhibit HIV.
“We are most gratified to help solve the mystery around CAF,” said Dr. David Ho, leader of the research team at Aaron Diamond. He is senior author of a study appearing Friday in Sciencexpress, the online version of the journal Science.
Ho said his group conducted tests that proved that three types of alpha-defensins, 1, 2 and 3, work together to inhibit HIV. He called the proteins “natural peptide antibodies” that work in concert to prevent HIV from reproducing.
Researchers still don’t know how the defensin proteins act against HIV and are still uncertain if the natural compounds can be used as a drug against the virus, he said.
“It is not entirely clear that we can turn this discovery into a useful therapeutic,” said Ho. He said the protein molecule is very large and the researchers are trying to make a smaller version that may act more powerfully against HIV.
“This will not be the ultimate solution,” said Ho, “but it could be another weapon in the arsenal against HIV.”
Ho said that apparently a kind of white blood cells, called CD8 T cells, and another kind of immune system cells, called neutrophils, make alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 in most people, but for unknown reasons only some are protected against the progression of HIV.
“With HIV infection, the capacity to make alpha-defensins is lost, but it is preserved in the long-term non-progressors,” Ho said.
Susan Plaeger, an AIDS scientist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( news – web sites), part of the National Institutes of Health ( news – web sites), said the study by Ho and his group is important “but it may not be the end of the story.”
She said there probably are other immune system proteins yet to be identified that also inhibit HIV.
“Defensins are active against a number of other microbes, so I am sure there will be a push to develop these as therapeutic agents,” said Plaeger.
By: paul178 - 17th February 2013 at 18:01
DCPage I don’t disagree at all with your post.Unfortunately the “nation” of the UK seems unable to take responsibilty for caring for and protecting the decent law abiding folks outside prison so I am afraid the pond life inside are way down the pecking order in my book.
By: DC Page - 17th February 2013 at 08:24
Prisoners don’t administer “justice”. They get some payback or revenge. And if they were level headed, they probably wouldn’t be prison inmates in the violent offenders ward. It’s a noble concept, but it doesn’t really apply to convicted, incarcerated, violent criminals does it?
Once you put someone in jail or prison, it is then the state or nation that is responsible for their welfare.
By: charliehunt - 17th February 2013 at 07:05
As difficult as it might be, a case such as this has to be approached with a level head.
It is not up to prisoners, or any sort of vigilante, to administer ‘justice’.
Indeed – that is the way to anarchy.
By: trumper - 16th February 2013 at 20:45
Even criminals have an honour system. Child fiddlers and killers are at bottom of the food chain in prison and special levels of hell are reserved for them if the other prisoners find out what they did and get to then unguarded. This is why they are usualy segregated. I guess someone “screwed up”.
I bet there’s some actors.celebrities,musicians,politicians ,clergymen all worrying about this now .
By: Lincoln 7 - 16th February 2013 at 19:24
Silver Fox.
I doubt very much if they would even consider it.
The ones inside, have “Friends” on the outside, and all it would take would be a phone call, to sort it, or intimidating the families concerned.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: silver fox - 16th February 2013 at 15:56
Next problem, if this particular piece of pond life has any family, watch out for someone sueing the Prison Service for not taking due care.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th February 2013 at 15:49
As difficult as it might be, a case such as this has to be approached with a level head.
It is not up to prisoners, or any sort of vigilante, to administer ‘justice’.
By: Mr Creosote - 16th February 2013 at 12:31
Just a pity his death couldn’t have been as slow and painful as what that xxxxing animal did to that poor little mite. Good news all the same, though.
By: Bmused55 - 16th February 2013 at 02:10
Even criminals have an honour system. Child fiddlers and killers are at bottom of the food chain in prison and special levels of hell are reserved for them if the other prisoners find out what they did and get to then unguarded. This is why they are usualy segregated. I guess someone “screwed up”.
By: TonyT - 16th February 2013 at 00:31
When I saw it I must admit I thought, Justice has finally been served, I do hope he suffered.
By: paul178 - 15th February 2013 at 23:44
I doubt they will find any witnesses for the prosecution. Nice one to whoever topped him. I am not one that usually advocates taking the law into your own hands but I do make exceptions!
By: Rabie - 27th September 2002 at 12:31
RE: Good news
a glimer of hope about a terible disease
rabie :9
Sign In
September 27, 2002 at 10:42 am