Wise Young
11-07-2006, 05:33 PM
This story just appeared but the real import of the article was hidden. Despite the billions and the best efforts of many of the world's best scientists, why don't we have a vaccine? Why has it been it so hard to get a vaccine that works against AIDS? The reason is because AIDS viruses incorporate themselves into the genetic code and can pass from cell to cell without having to transmute back into a virus (Source (http://www.aegis.com/news/ct/1987/CT870501.html)).
The particular approach reported in the following article is a Zinc finger DNA-binding protein nucleases (ZFN) designed to disrupt the CCR5 gene, coding for the receptor that allows HIV entrance into cells. Developed by Sangamo Biosciences, this is a new approach to treating AIDS by targetting the molecular receptor needed for HIV entry into cells (Source (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=120938&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=796820&)).
They initiated the phase 1 trial of this treatment in December 2005.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-06T220335Z_01_N06300058_RTRUKOC_0_US-AIDS-VIRUS.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage3
U.S. experiment uses AIDS to fight AIDS
Mon Nov 6, 2006 5:03pm ET146
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An AIDS virus genetically engineered to fight other AIDS viruses worked better than expected, suppressing the virus and renewing the immune systems of a few patients, researchers reported on Monday.
The study involved just five people, and such an approach needs years more study, they cautioned -- but the surprising results offer new hope both for the field of gene therapy and for treating the fatal and incurable AIDS virus.
"The goal of this phase I trial was safety and feasibility and the results established that," said Dr. Carl June of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who led the study.
"But the results also hint at something much more," he added.
"It seemed to have a vaccine-like effect in that the immune system was better in most of the patients than when they enrolled. We are trying to study the mechanism."
<more>
The particular approach reported in the following article is a Zinc finger DNA-binding protein nucleases (ZFN) designed to disrupt the CCR5 gene, coding for the receptor that allows HIV entrance into cells. Developed by Sangamo Biosciences, this is a new approach to treating AIDS by targetting the molecular receptor needed for HIV entry into cells (Source (http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=120938&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=796820&)).
They initiated the phase 1 trial of this treatment in December 2005.
http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-11-06T220335Z_01_N06300058_RTRUKOC_0_US-AIDS-VIRUS.xml&pageNumber=0&imageid=&cap=&sz=13&WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage3
U.S. experiment uses AIDS to fight AIDS
Mon Nov 6, 2006 5:03pm ET146
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An AIDS virus genetically engineered to fight other AIDS viruses worked better than expected, suppressing the virus and renewing the immune systems of a few patients, researchers reported on Monday.
The study involved just five people, and such an approach needs years more study, they cautioned -- but the surprising results offer new hope both for the field of gene therapy and for treating the fatal and incurable AIDS virus.
"The goal of this phase I trial was safety and feasibility and the results established that," said Dr. Carl June of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, who led the study.
"But the results also hint at something much more," he added.
"It seemed to have a vaccine-like effect in that the immune system was better in most of the patients than when they enrolled. We are trying to study the mechanism."
<more>