Gene Transfer Immunizes Against Monkey HIV Analog

Al writes "Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have immunized monkeys against the simian immunodeficiency virus, the animal model that is closest to HIV. They did so by shuttling a gene into the monkeys' muscles, making the muscle cells produce antibody-like molecules that work against SIV. With both SIV and HIV, the chameleon-like mutability of the virus's surface changes so quickly that most antibodies made by the immune system are soon rendered ineffective. Philip Johnson and colleagues designed DNA sequences for two antibodies known to be effective against SIV. They used antibody-like molecules, called immunoadhesins, in which the functional part of an antibody is fused with a more stable section of another antibody. The same approach could be used to deliver antibodies that are effective against HIV, but which the body doesn't normally produce."

Comments

that's good news....

[gandhi_2]

...for all the HIV-analogous-positive monkeys.

Re:that's good news....

[flaming error]

I'm waiting to see what they can do with Monkey HIV Digital.

Re:that's good news....

[BaronHethorSamedi]

You'd think that, but tragically, most HMOs refuse to cover monkeys, and gene transfer therapy is quite simply beyond the means of working class simians.

Monkeys, write your congressman!

Re:that's good news....

[clem]

unprotected monkey sex, sharing heroin needles, and participating in HIV related research as test subjects

I miss college.

Re:that's good news....

[K. S. Kyosuke]

You had unprotected monkey sex at college? Lucky bastard!

Another cure?

[tim_darklighter]

Does the direct injection of large sums of money also work for simians?

At last...

[eric_brissette]

...all of my hard work preparing for the zombie invasion will soon pay off.

Waste of money

[still cynical]

In just a few years we'll be forced to upgrade to Monkey HIV Digital, which will make Monkey HIV Analog look like crap anyway.

Re:Waste of money

[Gerafix]

The analog version is obviously superior. I can feel the soft, velvety texture of the analog virus whereas the digital version seems rough and blocky.

Re:Waste of money

[still cynical]

Yeah, you're probably one of those people that insist on spending a fortune on glass syringes with exotic wood plungers and gold-plated needles, because they feel healthier.

Re:Waste of money

[Chris Burke]

Whoa I'm not letting a doctor come anywhere near me with something called a "Monster Needle" no matter how much better he says the fidelity is.

I am not a sciency guy break it down for me please

[Phizzle]

Is it safe again to screw the monkeys or not?!

Good news for monkeys

[Foofoobar]

So this protects Steve Ballmer and his family but what about the rest of us? *ducks chair* INCOMING!

Re:Good news for monkeys

[Foofoobar]

Illiteracy is no laughing matter my friend. Learn to read.

Re:Whoa there, reporter cowboy.

[feepness]

Yeah, but at least I can sleep with my monkey without worrying...

Re:End run around non-protective responses

[OneMadMuppet]

floppy sections of their variable regions that allowed them to reach down to contact hidden epitopes

Best. Euphemism. Ever.

Re:and yet...

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Perhaps not 100 %, but CCR5-Delta32 helps quite a lot. In a strange twist of history, you have to be a Nordic, what some would have called "Nordic Aryan" half a century ago. I always knew that Black Death must have been good at least for *something*.

Re:Great news for those who can't walk upright...

[CarpetShark]

Great news for those who can't walk upright... with a hat on.

This is some sort of reference to George Bush's arguably incomplete ancestral path from monkey to human, right?

Re:Don't virii evolve extremely quickly?

[mutube]

Hell some places spread the lies that condoms are a western evil.

'Some places' like Vatican City?

Do it right kids, use a condom!

Re:Whoa there, reporter cowboy.

[Anonymous Coward]

So, Michael Jackson is using the username "feepness" here on Slashdot. Who'd a thunk it?