Woman May Hold AIDS Cure

U.S. researchers said Tuesday the possible cure for beating the AIDS virus is potentially locked away inside a woman who has never shown symptoms of infection.

The woman was infected a decade ago by her husband, but is able somehow to naturally control the deadly and incurable virus. In comparison, her husband must take cocktails of strong HIV drugs to control his.

A research team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore said she is a so-called "elite suppressor," and studies of her immune cells have begun to offer clues to how her body does it.

"This is the best evidence to date that elite suppressors can have fully pathogenic virus," said Dr. Joel Blankson, who led the study.

"The feeling was initially that they had defective virus," Blankson added.

Blankson said the couple has been monogamous for at least 17 years. Tests show they are infected with the same strain of virus. The variable in the equation is the immune system of the wife, who cannot be named for privacy reasons.

"That's a good sign in terms of developing a therapeutic vaccine," Blankson said. Such a vaccine would not prevent infection but might be used to treat patients.

[gemelk]

With every introduced pathogen, there is always some person or persons that possess unique immune systems that allow them to be infected, and either fight off and destroy the pathogen within them, or to be infected and never be harmed because their unique immune systems neutralize the pathogen within.

We can hope that such a vaccine will be found.

I feel strongly assured that in time, medical science will grow to a point of understanding where they will be able to create a vaccine for HIV and many other pathogens.

In the meantime however, we have a health care system that is in need of serious overhaul and needs to insure that every citizen has access to decent healthcare, at little to no cost.

Eric

[Charles Sears II]

While I am very happy with this story,I am perplexed at Dr's who want to find a possible cure and yet they don't investigate people like me who have traveled well and who are naturally immune to smallpox and its possible link to AIDS. I have offered my services/blood for study and have not heard from anyone..talked to my Dr's and always run into a blank wall...the Dr's either want to search on their own or seem to twiddle their thumbs,being complacent in the fact that AIDS patients live longer now with new drugs,etc. I have been exposed to AIDS at least 6 times with unprotected sex,with partners who had AIDS and didn't know it and I have been negative all these many years while my partners have died of the disease.I wish the Dr's would get on one clear path of testing,treatment,etc.Maybe then we could have a cure in this lifetime.

[Tom in El Paso]

Charles Sears II wrote:

. I have been exposed to AIDS at least 6 times with unprotected sex,with partners who had AIDS and didn't know it and I have been negative all these many years while my partners have died of the disease.

Keep trying, maybe your luck will change some day. Damned fool!!!!!

[Tom in El Paso]

gemelk wrote:

In the meantime however, we have a health care system that is in need of serious overhaul and needs to insure that every citizen has access to decent healthcare, at little to no cost.
Eric

There's no such system in the entire world. Just how would you make your vision of this work?

[kooky]

gemelk wrote:

With every introduced pathogen, there is always some person or persons that possess unique immune systems that allow them to be infected, and either fight off and destroy the pathogen within them, or to be infected and never be harmed because their unique immune systems neutralize the pathogen within.
We can hope that such a vaccine will be found.
I feel strongly assured that in time, medical science will grow to a point of understanding where they will be able to create a vaccine for HIV and many other pathogens.
In the meantime however, we have a health care system that is in need of serious overhaul and needs to insure that every citizen has access to decent healthcare, at little to no cost.
Eric

I found this article to be quite informative and uplifting, and I agree with you, Eric, that there are always people that show immunities to some of the more recent and devastating diseases. I have no doubt that there are others that they will find who also are immune, to some degree or other.(such as Charles Sears).
Let's hope a cure comes in our lifetime. Universal healthcare, such as that available in Canada needs to be implemented here in the U.S. also (Take note, TOM). Good thing they're working all the bugs out and we should be able to learn from their stumbling blocks.

[observer1]

Dont be naive, about heathcare, it a huge multi million dollar industry, people are thriving off of big pharma companies, aids, and HIV are no exception. Another interesting story Ive heard very very little about is the descendents of those from Euorope who survived the black plague, everyone who was exposed and lived was because they had an genetic mutation, that made them immune.. now it has been found that those same descendants are also immune from the Aids Virus... This is well documented.. sorry I dont have a direct source for this.. but I have heard almost nothing about this...seems odd as well. My frustration and goes out to those like Charles Sears II.

[Antiracist]

Charles Sears II wrote:

While I am very happy with this story,I am perplexed at Dr's who want to find a possible cure and yet they don't investigate people like me who have traveled well and who are naturally immune to smallpox and its possible link to AIDS. I have offered my services/blood for study and have not heard from anyone..talked to my Dr's and always run into a blank wall...the Dr's either want to search on their own or seem to twiddle their thumbs,being complacent in the fact that AIDS patients live longer now with new drugs,etc. I have been exposed to AIDS at least 6 times with unprotected sex,with partners who had AIDS and didn't know it and I have been negative all these many years while my partners have died of the disease.I wish the Dr's would get on one clear path of testing,treatment,etc.Maybe then we could have a cure in this lifetime.

Maybe this is your chance? Contact the people behind this article and call attention to your situation. Just don't give up, it's worst thing you can do.

[Ralph]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if only gay men and all women became immune? Just think of how much money the government would throw at it if only straight men could contract it.

[observer1]

Your right, that great advice. best wishes!

[Ralph]

Here is a link for the connection between AIDS & Black Plague

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/previous_seas...

[dante2810]

Charles Sears II wrote:

I have been exposed to AIDS at least 6 times with unprotected sex,with partners who had AIDS and didn't know it and I have been negative all these many years while my partners have died of the disease.

Odds might have been in your favor at those times.

The chance of getting HIV with receptive anal intercourse is, depending on which study, about 1 in 31 or up to 1 in 1300.
Having unprotected sex with someone that is HIV+ is not a 100% guarantee you will become infected, but the more you do it, the more chances those odds will eventually tip against you.

As for this story, the woman is HIV+, but her body has been able to defend itself against the virus well enough to keep it in check naturally. Her immune system have basically done what todays medications do, keep the virus from multiplying and becoming full blown AIDS.
While this current condition (as described in article) would not lead to an immunization from the virus, nor a cure, it could basically help in allowing our bodies to keep the virus in check without the cost or side effects of medication.

Definitely as step in right direction, but not a cure.

[Cpetr13]

It's probably due to that "possible link", you haven't actually been exposed to AIDS (as far as you note) or show actual immunity to it. HIV pathogens are fairly specific and are mutating; I don't see where your blood would be of any particular use to a focused study of AIDS itself.

Charles Sears II wrote:

While I am very happy with this story,I am perplexed at Dr's who want to find a possible cure and yet they don't investigate people like me who have traveled well and who are naturally immune to smallpox and its possible link to AIDS. I have offered my services/blood for study and have not heard from anyone..talked to my Dr's and always run into a blank wall...the Dr's either want to search on their own or seem to twiddle their thumbs,being complacent in the fact that AIDS patients live longer now with new drugs,etc. I have been exposed to AIDS at least 6 times with unprotected sex,with partners who had AIDS and didn't know it and I have been negative all these many years while my partners have died of the disease.I wish the Dr's would get on one clear path of testing,treatment,etc.Maybe then we could have a cure in this lifetime.

[Tom in El Paso]

kooky wrote:

<quoted text>
Let's hope a cure comes in our lifetime. Universal healthcare, such as that available in Canada needs to be implemented here in the U.S. also (Take note, TOM). Good thing they're working all the bugs out and we should be able to learn from their stumbling blocks.

Canada socialized medicine is just that and it's NOT free by any means. There is no such thing as "free" health care period. And they may very well never work all the bugs out of it. They'll probably go broke before that happens.(Take note, KOOKY)

[Ralph]

Tom in El Paso wrote:

<quoted text>
Canada socialized medicine is just that and it's NOT free by any means. There is no such thing as "free" health care period. And they may very well never work all the bugs out of it. They'll probably go broke before that happens.(Take note, KOOKY)

No one said anything about "free" healthcare. Put on your glasses and read the posts before you answer them. If you can't add anything to the conversation, why not just go away.

[kooky]

Ralph wrote:

<quoted text>
No one said anything about "free" healthcare. Put on your glasses and read the posts before you answer them. If you can't add anything to the conversation, why not just go away.

Not to worry Ralphie. Tommy just wants to appear intelligent. I live in Detroit and Windsor, Ont. is basically a "suburb". I know their system fairly well, but right now, I'm glad I have my BC/BS. They're getting better though.
Here's hoping we find a cure for HIV and AIDS in our lifetime!!!

[Tom in El Paso]

Ralph wrote:

<quoted text>
No one said anything about "free" healthcare. Put on your glasses and read the posts before you answer them. If you can't add anything to the conversation, why not just go away.

IF you had bothered to read the ORGINAL POST (which I carefully quoted) you would have discovered why I made that comment. You sure you want to talk about reading skills or just go away?

gemelk wrote:
In the meantime however, we have a health care system that is in need of serious overhaul and needs to insure that every citizen has access to decent healthcare, at little to no cost.
Eric

[gemelk]

Tom in El Paso wrote:

<quoted text>
IF you had bothered to read the ORGINAL POST (which I carefully quoted) you would have discovered why I made that comment. You sure you want to talk about reading skills or just go away?
gemelk wrote:
In the meantime however, we have a health care system that is in need of serious overhaul and needs to insure that every citizen has access to decent healthcare, at little to no cost.
Eric

Sorry Ralph but Tom is right, I did post that.

Additionally, I'm not anti-capitalist or free enterprise but when the worlds wealthiest nation by all standards, the United States, has 1 in 4 citizens without ANY healthcare, that's a problem. I won't bother with food distribution, poverty, etc.

I just believe that if we all settled for a little less profit and a little more equitable distribution of wealth, not to mention a little more charity and philanthropy, we'd have a much better world with far less conflict.

However, that's all a digression from the topic at hand.

Eric