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AIDS Can Fight AIDS

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the numbers-games dept.

dptalia writes "Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have announced that they have engineered a strain of the AIDS virus that fights AIDS. This strain of AIDS works like a vaccine and improved the immune system of the test subjects. After three years on this new therapy, no side effects have been observed."

4 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. AIDS Can Fight AIDS? by Purity+Of+Essence · · Score: 5, Informative

    AIDS is a condition, not a virus.

    AIDS != HIV

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    +0 Meh
    1. Re:AIDS Can Fight AIDS? by blitz77 · · Score: 5, Informative
      Where art thou, mods?!!? Mod parent up!

      HIV is the virus which affects the immune system (by infecting the T-helper lymphocytes). AIDS is what happens after enough time has passed for the HIV virus to put a sufficient enough dent in the immune system - that's why its called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome after all.

      So I think its more correct to say that it's HIV to fight HIV-using a HIV modified virus to stimulate the immune system against HIV.

  2. Re:AIDS Hoax-Ten reasons HIV is not the cause of A by TheRealSync · · Score: 5, Informative

    Pseudoscience kills. Do not spread it.

    Facts: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/Factsheets/evidhiv.htm

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    -- A good compromise leaves everyone mad. --Calvin and Hobbes
  3. Setting the record straight - New advances (HIV) by blahdeblah2000 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Every couple of weeks or so the media buy a press release about how 'a new drug' / 'gene therapy' / 'Nanotechnology' could possibly cure AIDS.

    Now let's get a few things straight -

    Firstly, all these potential cures work against HIV (which causes AIDS).

    Secondly, there are already some great meds around for extend life span of people infected with the HI virus by 20+ years as long as people infected are adherrent to their drugs and live healthly lifestyle. Of course when you live in poverty and without access to decent healthcare this is damn hard - hence the problems in resource poor communities.

    Thirdly, there is a huge pipeline of new potential drugs which may improve on the current medication regimes and if anyone is interested these tables below will give some indication of the new advanced that may possibly become approved over the next few years after extensive tests: -

    Finally, if people are really interested in the latest new drugs for HIV they can get the simply subscribe to thebody.com that has an excellent newsletter which includes new developments. Or look at their latest update on Other Antiviral Drugs in Development- Sept 13 2006 and note the following paragraph

    'Antisense Drugs These are a "mirror image" of part of the HIV genetic code. The drug locks onto the virus to prevent it from functioning. One antisense drug, HGTV43 by Enzo Therapeutics, is starting Phase II trials. VIRxSYS has completed a Phase I trial of its product, VRX496.'