Science: Spectacular News on AIDS, Life

Two science stories caught my attention today which are potentially VERY good news. They suggest that AIDS may be preventable and that quality of life may be improved and prolonged in the elderly.

An injection of two drugs normally used to treat HIV patients completely protected monkeys from becoming infected with the AIDS virus, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

 Reuters

and

Resveratrol appears to be the first molecule to consistently cause life extension across very different animal groups such as worms, insects, and fish, and it could become the starting molecule for the design drugs for the prevention of human aging-related diseases.

Natural Compound Prolongs Lifespan And Delays Onset Of Aging-related Traits In A Short-lived Vertebrate

Obviously it is still very early and these discoveries are not 'silver bullets' that will completely abolish the scourge of AIDS or instantly become Niven's 'boosterspice' but they are extremely encouraging.

The monkeys were then exposed to a combined human-monkey AIDS virus called SHIV, using a rectal method aimed at simulating male homosexual contact. That happened daily for 14 days and the monkeys also got daily injections.

snip

The six monkeys that received the drug combination were all completely protected from infection. By comparison, nine monkeys that took part in a previous experiment all eventually became infected with the SHIV virus.

"Study authors believe the findings may be the strongest animal data yet suggesting that potent antiretrovirals given before HIV exposure may prevent sexual HIV transmission," the CDC said in a statement.

The researchers cautioned the drug dose was slightly different from that seen in people taking Truvada and said studies under way will answer the question of whether the findings will translate to humans.

That sounds like a breakthrough to me and as for the other article?

"The researchers added resveratrol to daily fish food and found that this treatment increased longevity and also retarded the onset of aging-related decays in memory and muscular performance."

Even better, Resveratrol is found in red wine. I'll raise a toast to that.

•  Tips, flames... n/t

  by Athenian on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:28:35 AM PDT

•  Great news.

  Although I was sad when I realized there will be people arguing against the use of any AIDS vaccine scientists can develop.

  by Magenta on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:30:25 AM PDT

  •  Thrilled as I am,

    my fear is that an effective AIDS virus will create the illusion that unsafe sex is now "safe," and we'll see a spike in other, equally deadly STD's.  AIDS education groups should get on this now and be ready to shift their approach; although I know many lend a lot of focus to hep. B (especially) already, so it's not a huge leap.

    Still, as far as public consciousness goes?  No AIDS = no condoms?  Yikes.  Expect the worst, in the short-term.

    by pico on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:44:59 AM PDT

    •  you mean drug cocktail, not virus, right?

      n/t

      by billlaurelMD on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 11:31:46 AM PDT

      •  er....

        yeah, stupid typo on my part.  Sorry 'bout that.  

        Thanks.

        by pico on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 12:01:01 PM PDT

•  Hmm

  The multi level marketing (pyramid scams) health supplement outfits have been peddling resveratrol for years.

  And the French paradox is old news.

  by bumblebums on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:32:18 AM PDT

  •  oops

    Clicked 'post' before adding my hooray for new findings!

    by bumblebums on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:33:16 AM PDT

•  great news!

  This is incredible...thanks for posting this diary! I hope this leads to the AIDS vaccine. On the other thing though about agin....you know I'm not too sure that all this anti-aging crap is really a good thing, do you really want to live to be 137 years old? I mean living till 80 is good enough for me, besides....living that long means you gotta work more, and deal with people's bullshit more, and have to deal with more Republican presidents than you would have seen otherwise.

  by michael1104 on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:35:07 AM PDT

  •  Yeah, and the rich

    will be the first to live longer. In fact that whole 'death tax' the Republicans keep on hammering on about will become 'obsolete.'
    : )

    However, I am really curious as to how the century will turn out. if it gets too bad you can always opt out.

    Cheers.

    by Athenian on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:41:13 AM PDT

    •  Death tax,

      thou shalt die!

      by pico on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:46:52 AM PDT

    •  nobody knows....

      the long-term effect of these drugs on the body.  Even now, HIV infected persons are learning what the Protease Inhibitors (available in 1996) are doing to them, after long term use.  These new drugs are totally untested in this perspective, and may contain unintended consequences.

      by Glorfindel on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 12:04:57 PM PDT

      •  Given that AIDS kills

        anything that provides protection is good. Naturally they have to go through all sorts of tests before they are proscribed for this.

        BTW What are the long term effects of Protease Inhibitors?

        by Athenian on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 12:12:51 PM PDT

  •  The Life Extension Work That Is Mostly

    being discussed, that I as a complete layman see, creates much of the extension in the healthy period of life. I'm 50 and I wouldn't mind at all living for 20-30 more years in the body of 50 to 70 year old, provided I'm otherwise normally healthy, and depending on what opportunities there were.

    by Gooserock on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 11:09:24 AM PDT

•  I wonder....

  IF this ever gets to Human testing....

  And IF this passes Human testing....

  Will it:

  Be made available in eradication-level amounts? (where a single doctor could go to a town in Africa and have more than enough to immunize everybody there)

  Be allowed into the market by the right-wing anti-choice brigade?

  Also, seeing as the nature of HIV is different from the nature of Smallpox (You can be born with HIV) how will we be able to "break the cycle," so to speak? Immunizations in utero?

  Lastly, what effects does this have on people aho have been infected with HIV? Any side effects?

  by BullitNutz on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:37:27 AM PDT

  •  Every little bit helps

    These are drugs already being given to AIDS patients with fewer side-effects and greater effectiveness. It is not a vaccine but a temporary protection in a high risk environment, is at least how I read it. Future developments along these lines I believe might lead to a vaccine or something much like it.

    by Athenian on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:45:36 AM PDT

    •  Oh, thanks for the clarification.

      This is good news indeed, even if it's not a full-blown vaccine/cure. Anything that can internally protect people from receiving an infection (as opposed to something that can be forgotten/denied/broken i.e. a condom) is very good news for the world. Let's simply hope that we'll have a group of people who truly care about the sanctity of life behind this, people who will recognize the mountainous need for research and prevention, and some day, eradication of the HIV virus. Sure, some day, something else will come along, but we'll be safe from AIDS, safe from "the" killer STI for a while. That's all we can ask for.

      by BullitNutz on Wed Feb 08, 2006 at 04:22:55 AM PDT

      •  You are welcome

        and I agree with your sentiments.

        Cheers

        by Athenian on Wed Feb 08, 2006 at 11:35:10 AM PDT

•  Details please

  The monkeys were then exposed to a combined human-monkey AIDS virus called SHIV, using a rectal method aimed at simulating male homosexual contact.

  Is this available on the open market ?

  by tiponeill on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:48:59 AM PDT

  •  "Is this available on the open market?"

    I really don't want to know why you would want a simulated Rhesus monkey penis. : )

    Cheers

    by Athenian on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:55:38 AM PDT

•  Mmmmmmm.......

  Red wine AND buttfucking monkies!

  My Valentine's weekend suddenly is looking up!

  </snark>

  by wonkydonkey on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:54:07 AM PDT

•  I don't think drinking a lot of wine

  is going to lead to abstinence so this is not going to be pushed by our people at the UN no matter how much the French like the idea.

  by melvonator on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 11:00:31 AM PDT

•  Alito On Bench for 75 Years

  I never seemed to get much response when I pointed out what the Bush Court appointments were likely to mean, in light of life extension that is already being proven in animals.

  Alito and Roberts will serve during two generations of life extension research before they're anywhere near old enough to retire by today's standards.

  by Gooserock on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 11:06:30 AM PDT

  •  maybe they can have brain transplants

    once they're available.  A good, progressive brain!

    by billlaurelMD on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 11:33:32 AM PDT

  •  Da.

    Somewhere around 2022, President Clinton will forced to use the threat that FDR used, that is to pack the court. Republican obstructionism will force President Chelsea to carry out her threat and the twelve justices she appoints will keep the SCOTUS liberal until 2225.

    Or well impeach the bastards. : )

    by Athenian on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 11:36:48 AM PDT