SWITZERLAND: SCIENTISTS DEVELOP NEW MOLECULE WHICH MAY PROTECT AGAINST HIV/AIDS VIRUS.
Record ID:
647867
SWITZERLAND: SCIENTISTS DEVELOP NEW MOLECULE WHICH MAY PROTECT AGAINST HIV/AIDS VIRUS.
- Title: SWITZERLAND: SCIENTISTS DEVELOP NEW MOLECULE WHICH MAY PROTECT AGAINST HIV/AIDS VIRUS.
- Date: 16th October 2004
- Summary: (EU) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (OCTOBER 15, 2004)(REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. MV/CU: PROFESSOR ROBIN OFFORD WORKING ON HIS COMPUTER; NEW MOLECULE SHOWN ON A COMPUTER SCREEN (3 SHOTS) 0.18 2. MV/PAN: PROFESSOR ROBIN OFFORD AND DOCTOR OLIVER HARTLEY WALKING AROUND THE LAB, TALKING TO EACH OTHER; OFFORD AND HARTLEY LEAVING THE LAB (2 SHOTS) 0.42 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROFESSOR ROBIN OFFORD SAYING: "This material if it works successfully in humans as we hope will prevent infection and studies have shown that in developing countries which is where 95% of the problem is, that a material of this kind, even if it was 65% effective will be likely to save three and a half million lives in the first three years of its use. We don't claim that ours will necessarily be effective, we hope it will be more effective than 65%, all that remains to be proved." 1.13 4. MCU/CU: WOMAN WORKING WITH SAMPLES IN A LAB (2 SHOTS) 1.21 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROFESSOR ROBIN OFFORD SAYING: "We hope to begin the tests of safety in human beings within the next twelve months. First to see if the material produces no adverse side effect. We will then move to tests of efficacy in larger groups of people who are exposed to risk of infection but I am afraid that the whole process even if all goes for the best takes several years." 1.44 6. MV: WOMAN WORKING MANIPULATING SAMPLES IN A LAB 1.50 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOCTOR OLIVER HARTLEY SAYING: "First of all this is a extremely motivating for our own team and we hope also that it will encourage other people working in the field to redouble our efforts." 2.01 8. CU: CLOSE OF NEW MOLECULE ON A COMPUTER SCREEN 2.04 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 31st October 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Reuters ID: LVA6IALWMBZ1SJP69DXJPY9NIQT8
- Story Text: A team of scientists has developed a new molecule,
which coulde protect against the HIV/AIDS virus.
A souped-up version of a naturally occurring immune
system protein can protect female monkeys from the AIDS
virus, scientists reported on Friday (October 15) in a
finding they say may lead to a new way to prevent infection
in people.
They hope to eventually use their discovery to develop
a microbicide -- a cream or gel that women and men could
use to protect themselves from sexual transmission of the
deadly virus.
With 43 million people infected and more than 25
million already dead from the incurable virus, a
microbicide would be a valuable way to help fight the
epidemic.
The vast majority of HIV infections in the world are
sexually transmitted, most commonly through heterosexual
sex but there has been substantial debate as to how the
virus actually gets into cells at these sites of
transmission, called mucosal sites.
The human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS uses
molecular doorways called receptors to get into CD4
T-cells, the immune system cells that HIV infects. One of
these receptors is called CCR5.
People with a mutation whose CD4 cells' surface lack
CCR5 are almost completely protected from acquiring HIV
infection. Also, an immune system messenger chemical or
chemokine called RANTES can attach to CCR5 and keep HIV
from getting in.
Robin Offord and Olivier Hartley of the University of
Geneva in Switzerland developed a special form of RANTES
that did this especially well. The team worked to dissolve
their new chemical in saline solution and then tested it to see if it
w
ould protect monkeys.
It did, they reported in this week's issue of the
journal "Science".
They put the solution into the vaginas of female rhesus
monkeys and 15 minutes later put in a solution containing
SHIV, a hybrid of the human HIV and the simian version of
the virus that infects monkeys.
The highest dose of PSC-RANTES protected all five
monkeys that got it. The second-highest concentration
protected four out of five monkeys treated, while a
slightly lower concentration protected three of five
animals.
In laboratory tests, the chemical prevented the virus
from infecting cells for a full day. That could mean a
woman could use a gel or cream 24 hours before having sex
and still be protected, in theory at least.
The Swiss team is now working on a cheaper and easier
way to make the RANTES molecule.
Professor Offord is eager to test the compound in
people, but recognises that this will take time.
"We hope to begin the tests of safety in human
beings within the next twelve months. First to see if the
material produces no adverse side effect. We will then move
to tests of efficacy in larger groups of people who are
exposed to risk of infection but I am afraid that the whole
process even if all goes for the best takes several years,"
he said.
AIDS experts agree that women and some men need an
alternative to condoms to protect themselves from the AIDS
virus. In many instances women are unable to refuse sex
from husbands or other men and, even more commonly, men
refuse to use condoms.
Several groups are working to develop microbicides but
advocacy groups complain the field is not funded as well as
it could be.
Dr Hartley hopes that their success will help further
research in the field.
"First of all this is a extremely motivating for our
own team and we hope also that it will encourage other
people working in the field to redouble our efforts," he
said.
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