HIV Cure

[Super_Sturm]

HIV, thankfully for the human race, is sensitive to oxygen, so dies when exposed to it for a period of time.

How long a period of time is needed Jez?

[Jezebel]

I don't think a number can be applied, Sturm. A lot would depend on viral load in the sample, how liquid the sample is, and how long it would take the sample to dry.

[Lady Maven]

I decided to stop being lazy and do my own research. An HIV survival study was done Stability and inactivation of HTLV-III/LAV under clinical and laboratory environments. Journal of the American Medical Association 1986;255:1887-91). The clinical study used HIV conditions 100,000 times those that would be found in a like amount of bodily fluid. It was still detectable after three days exposure, but not by much. The leading theory seems to be 2-3 hours.

It would seem that HIV is a blood born virus transferable ONLY through bodily fluids and so has not had a reason thus far to mutate to exist in another environ. (ok, which we knew, bear with me) Added to that its molecular makeuo is RNA which is unstable outside of its environs.

Now all we have to do is figure out what molecule could be added to stop the genes from multiplying and bingo, a vaccine. Why do the most simple sounding things turn out to be so complicated?

(and PLEASE do not try to explain it to me, above is my very limited knowledge of mutations, RNA and vaccines. You will make my eyes cross)

[Gerien]

Except that the only money going into AIDS research for well over a decade know has been pharmaceuticals - which only pay off if the patient stays treatable, aka not cured or vaccinated.

[Super_Sturm]

I don't think a number can be applied, Sturm. A lot would depend on viral load in the sample, how liquid the sample is, and how long it would take the sample to dry.

Thx Jez
I've a hypothetical Idea, bouncing around in my head , but I'm not sure if it is possible atm.

[Lady Maven]

I would take exception to that statement Gerien, but I know what you mean and I understand the frustration. We did Ice Fantastic (later Sacramento Theater on Ice) as an AIDS benefit for more than a decade but the money we managed to raise would not have made a HUGE difference. It was... frustrating. I was so angry when my friend Robert died from AIDS just after one benefit that I could not even stand there for his tribute at the next (he was a skater. Pretty well known if you like figure skating, full name Robert Wagenhoffer, it still pains me every time I think of him).

CARES did not use well the money we did collect and that is all I will say about that.

[Grunt]

It seems to me that the primary job of most charities is to raise money so they can afford to raise more money

[Jezebel]

the primary job of most charities is to raise money so they can afford to raise more money

Which saddens me terribly, but I've had the same cynical attitude towards many big charities.
I help where I can - I'm a member of the Lion's club, and take part in their numerous charity fundraisers. AT least there, I know where the money is going.

[Gerien]

The point of my post is that AIDS is a largely "forgotten" disease when it comes to public awareness and funding. Cancer - breast in particular - is much more likely to get donations nowadays.

[Lady Maven]

I agree. I cannot pretend to know what it is like to have a deadly disease and no one in a position to change it seems to give a shit, but I can still be damned sorry about it.

[Kenos]

Except that the only money going into AIDS research for well over a decade know has been pharmaceuticals - which only pay off if the patient stays treatable, aka not cured or vaccinated.

I dunno about the distrubution of the investments, but over the years I've heard of at least 3 HIV vaccin tests being conducted and concluded. They all failed, which is perhaps the reason why they aren't popular any more? In any case the first company/scientist to produce a cure for HIV will rake in loads of cash given the large amounts of people infected with it at this time (I would assume there would be a polio/smallpox type of global effort to eradicate the disease once and for all), not to mention the publicity and nobel prizes and stuff. That has got to be enough motivation.

[Jezebel]

Bear in mind that virology is not my strong subject. But I've long feared that a reliable vaccine for HIV would not be possible. Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system's memory cells, which trigger the antibodies to fight off infection. But HIV attacks those very memory cells, and the provirus (viral DNA integrated into the host cell genome, which generates new viruses) is activated when the memory cells are activated to fight an infection.