Bee Venom kills HIV

Robotech Master · Mar 10, 2013

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis (WU) say they’ve found a way to effectively destroy the HIV virus using a toxin found in bee venom.

The study, published Thursday in the journal Antiviral Therapy, states that the technique not only destroys the virus that causes AIDS, but also leaves surrounding cells intact.

Researchers say they hope the nanoparticle technology could be incorporated into a vaginal gel to prevent the spread of HIV in areas with high rates of infection.

How Nanoparticles & Bee Venom Destroy HIV

Microscopic nanoparticles have unique and exciting properties. In biomedicine, they are used to transport important proteins throughout the body. Bee venom’s principle toxin is melittin, a small protein. Researchers used nanoparticles to distribute melittin in laboratory studies.

Similar to the way a bee injects its venom into your skin using its stinger, the toxin melittin is able to poke holes in the protective coating of HIV and other viruses.

Early Signs of HIV

“We are attacking an inherent physical property of HIV,” Dr. Joshua L. Hood, a research instructor in medicine at WU, said in a press release. “Theoretically, there isn’t any way for the virus to adapt to that. The virus has to have a protective coat, a double-layered membrane that covers the virus.”

When researchers loaded the toxin into nanoparticles, they found that it didn’t harm normal cells because of a protective bumper added to the nanoparticle’s surface. Because HIV cells are smaller than regular cells, they slide between the bumpers while leaving healthy, normal cells intact.

Most current HIV treatments focus on inhibiting HIV’s ability to replicate, but do nothing to stop the initial infection. However, researchers say that because the venom-laced nanoparticles attack a crucial part of HIV’s structure, they can kill before the virus has a chance to infect a person.

The Changing Face of HIV
How Bee Venom Nanoparticles Can Help Stop the Spread of HIV

Researchers say these bee venom nanoparticles could be used in a vaginal gel to help prevent the spread of HIV in developing countries, such as parts of African with a high HIV rate. They could also be used by people who want HIV protection, but not contraception.

“We also are looking at this for couples where only one of the partners has HIV, and they want to have a baby,” Hood said. “These particles by themselves are actually very safe for sperm, for the same reason they are safe for vaginal cells.”

Beyond preventive measures, Hood sees the potential for treating existing HIV infections. He theorizes that the nanoparticles could be injected into a person’s blood in order to clear HIV cells from the bloodstream.

The technology could also be used to combat other infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B and C, because the viruses share a similar protective membrane to the HIV virus.

Dr. George Krucik, Healthline’s director of clinical content, said that while nanoparticle research is not new, much more research will be required before these results can be put to use in people.

“This delivery technology holds out the promise of destroying circulating viruses that have not entered a cell, so in theory they could prevent a virus from infecting a cell,” he said. “These laboratory experiments are known as proof of concept studies, which demonstrate the feasibility of the technology. The use of this technology in humans has yet to be explored and will require years of study and clinical trials to see if they are effective in real live people.”

Bee venom is also being studied for use in pain relief medications and anti-aging creams.
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http://health.yahoo.net/articles/healthcare/researchers-bee-venom-can-kill-hiv-virus

Neat stuff. Science FTW.

Will Power · Mar 10, 2013

Very interesting. Great find Robotech Master

Ironic given how lethal bee venom is &/or can be to some people.

Bickendan · Mar 10, 2013

Nah, that's not ironic.
It's only ironic if the HIV patient seeking to be cured is allergic to bees

Will Power · Mar 10, 2013

Bickendan said: ↑

Nah, that's not ironic.

It's only ironic if the HIV patient seeking to be cured is allergic to bees
Click to expand...

Dammit! That's true.

You'd LITERALLY be curing the disease by killing the patient!

Tuckerfan · Mar 10, 2013

I saw a great photo someone had put with an article about this. The photo was of an image of the HIV virus with the caption, "If you think HIV is God's punishment for homosexuality, your God is losing!"

Volpone · Mar 11, 2013

I dunno about that. AIDS killed a lot of faggots over the past 3 decades.

Mrs. Albert · Mar 11, 2013

is that really necessary in techforge? can you at least try to contain your hate to the red room?

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Bee Venom kills HIV

Robotech Master '

Will Power If you only knew the irony of my name.

Bickendan Custom Title Administrator Faceless Mook Writer

Will Power If you only knew the irony of my name.

Tuckerfan BMF

Volpone Zombie Hunter

Mrs. Albert demented estrogen monster

Log in or Sign up

Bee Venom kills HIV

Robotech Master '

Will Power If you only knew the irony of my name.

Bickendan Custom Title Administrator Faceless Mook Writer

Will Power If you only knew the irony of my name.

Tuckerfan BMF

Volpone Zombie Hunter

Mrs. Albert demented estrogen monster

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