Scientists Discover 'Natural Barrier' to HIV

[TechBear_Seattle]

Scientists Discover 'Natural Barrier' to HIV

MONDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have discovered that cells in the mucosal lining of human genitalia produce a protein that "eats up" invading HIV -- possibly keeping the spread of the AIDS more contained than it might otherwise be.

Even more important, enhancing the activity of this protein, called Langerin, could be a potent new way to curtail the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, the Dutch scientists added.

The article continues at http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070305/hl_hsn/scientistsdiscovernaturalbarriertohiv

[sakabatou]

1. If this isn't it, it's a very god step.

[aceman2373]

2. Or you could just wear a condom

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. That is not an option for many people

Worldwide, HIV is spread primarily by heterosexual intercourse. Most of the countries with widespread HIV infection are very poor, with little access to clean drinking water or adequate shelter much less condoms. And even when condoms are available, the Catholic Church has gone out of its way to condemn to Hell everyone who would use them.

[enid602]

9. aid

And international aid from the US to these poor countries is now only distributed IF each country agrees not to spend the funds on condoms, education of sex workers, etc

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. Good point

There was a news story about a week ago about the US cutting off funding to a very large international aid organization because they refused to stop providing condoms to sex workers in Vietnam.

[aceman2373]

17. do you have a link to that?

[kestrel91316]

22. Your fingers are paralyzed? Discover Google.

[MrPrax]

26. Classic!! Kudos n/t

[enid602]

23. aid

And don't forget, the recipients of this aid must also sign a waiver that no US citizen or corporate or governmental entity can be prosecuted for human rights violations while in the recipient's country.

[w4rma]

5. Or you can do both. A condom isn't 100%. (nt)

[jobycom]

10. And hope it doesn't break. nt

[closeupready]

13. How about this - the two things can co-exist in the world!

(Wow. Am I amazing or what?)

[closeupready]

15. Oh and another retort: "unless you are a devout Catholic"

n/t

[kestrel91316]

20. Yeah. 'Cause they're foolproof and never tear.

Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[nomo]

4. Those cells wouldn't be inside the foreskin, would they?

Because that would render the recent "discovery" that circumcision helps prevent HIV infection rather, uh, impotent.

Wonderin'.

From Wikipedia:

"Body cavities featuring mucous membrane include most of the respiratory system. The glans penis (head of the penis) and glans clitoris and the inside of the prepuce (foreskin) and clitoral hood are mucous membranes, not skin."

[Placebo]

6. Mexed Missages if so!

:)

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. Not reported about the circumcision research...

Is the fact that the dramatic decrease in transmission of HIV and other STDs was found in third world countries with inadequate hygiene customs. In developed countries where people have access to soap and clean water, the differences in transmission rate between circumsized and uncircumsized is negligible. At issue is that bacteria and viruses get sheltered in a warm, damp environment, increasing the likelihood of infecting him and his next partner.

[depakid]

25. Hogwash

The studies and peer reviewed journal articles and comments- and there are tons of them- )a Pub Med search for "HIV" and "circumcision" brings up 361 entries)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed

go into all of the above and more. At length. There's no good reason why the basic results aren't generalizable.

[endarkenment]

14. hush: our foreskins are flame bait extraordinaire. nt.

[aquart]

19. Hon, you keep your teeny tiny turtleneck on tight.

You do that.

Give my poor, decimated people a chance to grow and multiply.

[NickB79]

27. Probably not

Since medical journals keep publishing studies linking circumcision in developing nations to a reduced risk of HIV transmission.

[MuseRider]

8. Wow!

Very interesting. That explains a lot about infection rates. This will be worth watching. Fingers crossed as always that this is helpful if not the magic bullet.

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. In related news: HIV transmission risk highest early in infection

See post in Science forum, http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x28079

[NoodleyAppendage]

16. Hmmm...does this mean I can tell my wife that it is anti-viral lotion? Bad...bad.

Always looking for positive excuses. :)

J

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

18. b-17?

[xchrom]

21. kick

[David Zephyr]

24. Most promising.

K&R