http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/28/gene-therapy-raises-hope-aids-cure/

3/8/2011 5:48:02 PM

if theyre talking about ccr5 (which i'm sure they are) theyve known about this mutation for a pretty long time.


if i'm not mistaken there has been once case where aids was "cured" and it was via a bone marrow transplant (the donor happened to be a ccr5 mutant and when the bone marrow/stems were transplanted the new individual pumped out the mutant t's)

[Edited on March 8, 2011 at 5:53 PM. Reason : just looked at it....ccr5 still cool nonetheless. ]

[Edited on March 8, 2011 at 5:54 PM. Reason : here ya go! http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/11/13/us-aids-stemcells-idUSTRE4AC07O20081113]

3/8/2011 5:53:05 PM

what is its effectiveness vs. superAIDS or the buttAIDS?

3/8/2011 5:55:18 PM

^^Yeah, totally.

But now they've successfully performed the gene therapy on six new people.

It's the next big step!

[Edited on March 8, 2011 at 6:02 PM. Reason : ...using patient's own blood cells!!!]

3/8/2011 5:59:25 PM

Quote :

"It’s far too early to know whether this scientific first will prove to be a cure or even a new treatment. The research was meant to show only that, so far, it seems feasible and safe."

So basically, this will not be implemented for a very long time (I'm going to guess ten years or more).

Yes it's cool and a step in the right direction, but the one thing that bothers me about articles like this is it makes a cure or at least something really helpful seem only a few years away and kind of gets people's hopes up... (If that makes sense)

I think I'd be more excited if they waited to release this info once it had been tested in a few groups or until they had a bigger cohort go through the treatment..

3/8/2011 6:03:36 PM

Maybe they have to get everyone excited so they'll pump more money into research and development

3/8/2011 6:04:51 PM

Even if you get funders excited, the patients out there who get excited over this are going to be sorely disappointed if they think it'll happen in the near future. :\ You could always try to sign patients up for clinical trials, but there's a lot that goes along with being in one...

3/8/2011 6:06:53 PM

does this cure the root cause of HIV and AIDS? you know... homosexuality?

3/8/2011 6:09:33 PM

CONCENTRATED INJECTIONS OF MONEY

3/8/2011 6:12:29 PM

^^^Alzheimer's runs crazy deep in my family, and we get excited about every development in detection, treatment, and cures, but it's just hope and "cautious excitement."

From my perspective, I want to know what they're working on and coming up with. It's a lot better than silence. You know what I mean?

3/8/2011 6:25:03 PM

A few interesting links from this thread:
http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=606396

The same thing Joie was talking about I believe:
"Stem cell transplant has cured HIV infection in 'Berlin patient', say doctor"
http://www.aidsmap.com/page/1577949/

The FDA has approved a 60 second HIV test just a few months back:
"New HIV Test Has One-Minute Results"
http://hivplusmag.com/NewsStory.asp?id=22098&sd=12/15/2010

Quote :

"“We believe the speed, accuracy, and unique technology of our 60-second HIV test will make the testing and early treatment of HIV/AIDS more efficient in all patient settings, including hospital emergency rooms and public health clinics,” said bioLytical Laboratories president Philip Bligh in a press release. “Additionally, our high-volume, automated manufacturing capability makes INSTI one of the most cost-effective solutions available for providers of HIV rapid testing.”"

3/8/2011 6:30:51 PM

^2 No, I understand that. But I think it's safe to say there's a lot more advancement with familial Alzheimer's and the genetics behind it, and a lot more clinical trial opportunities for people who actually fit the profile. I just wish they would have waited a little longer before releasing a huge story on it because it was only 6 people so far. Now, if they had a pretty decent group of people I think it would be more substantial - but in the future when they do try this on a new, bigger group and for some reason it doesn't pan out the way they hoped, I can see it causing a lot of trouble with physicians having to explain to patients why it's not an option for them. Yeah that's a risk with every disorder you research, but AIDs affects a ton of people so obviously it's going to be more popular in the media.


Also, I think I just have a general problem with them saying it was completely successful when only 6% of their cells had changed. But, I can admit that's better than no change at all..


As for Alzheimer's, if you think you have the familial type you should really consider looking into some clinical trials.

[Edited on March 8, 2011 at 6:34 PM. Reason : Just my 2 cents, a step in the right direction nonetheless!]

3/8/2011 6:34:10 PM

I mean, it might cure AIDS...but what about AIDS AIDS.

3/8/2011 6:34:55 PM

Can anybody explain the timing on this?

In the Dec. 2010 article about the German patient, they wrote:

Quote :

"Gene therapy techniques which can transform stem cells – and all their descendents – into cells resistant to HIV entry may be a more practical option than looking for matching donors."

Now, less than three months later, they're reporting that they've successfully done the gene therapy on six people.

Do they really work that fast?

3/8/2011 6:37:56 PM

The gene therapy they're describing in this article doesn't sound like stem cells, imo. Almost sounded like a knock-out model..

3/8/2011 6:41:14 PM

I see (sort of). This is crazy cool!

3/8/2011 6:45:26 PM

great - now the gays can have more godless, unprotected anal sex in the airport bathroom with strangers.

3/8/2011 8:11:07 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO



WE NEED A CURE FOR BREAST CANCER TO GET RID OF THE SUSAN G COMEN FOUNDATION

3/8/2011 10:50:15 PM

AHA, I'd also like a malaria vaccine so we don't have to spend so much on foreign aid.

And I'd like it in in bomb form. We could just drop vaccine bombs on people and fly off into the sunset all American-like.

3/9/2011 12:15:45 AM