Scientists have demonstrated some promising results about testing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, which are HIV drugs to prevent it before contracting it. Taking medicine or being vaccinated to don’t contract a disease or a virus is not any news, but for HIV it is. In July 2011 TDF2 Study and Partner’s PrEP Study demonstrated that “clear evidence that the antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV can be used to prevent heterosexual transmission of HIV from men to women and from women to men” (AIDS.GOV,2011). There were also good news to the homosexuals, because as the results mentioned in November 2010 was that a daily dose of antiviral drug of HIV can reduce the chance of contracting HIV but not eliminate it. However, the problem is how are those new contribuents to prevent HIV will be used in the real world, the drugs used were already aprooved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), but the PrEP HIV still has not been aprooved by the FDA. In 2011 CDC also published , and they urge heterosexual to consider those guidances before taking in consideration PrEP. Therefore, it is still not very well seen but with time it can be improved and most people will use it. At least we have a start.
Even though PrEP seems to be a great contribution to reduce HIV from spreadng, it is not the only research scientists have made. Scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Disease (NIAD), says that “key research goal is to develop HIV vaccines that prevent HIV infection by inducing more effective immune responses than those that occur naturally.”(Science Daily, 2011). In the article that they describe this new research, they specifically mention what are their challenges in creating a vaccine to neutralize antibodies. Just as to get a better understanding of the B cells process undergo to produce neutralizing HIV cells and also working under way to design structure based for HIV vaccines. This seems a lot of work, but the scientists ended the article confident by saying that with new tools available for research, and also they increased their knowledge about the immune response for HIV. So these news make them believe that HIV vaccine can be achieved. Let’s hope so.
Due to the vaccine, scientists have also figured out that breast milk has antibodies that neutralize HIV. "This finding indicates that enhancement of these responses through vaccination could help reduce HIV transmission via breastfeeding," says corresponding author Sallie Permar of Duke University, Durham, NC(Science daily, 2011). Even though that is a great discover to contribute to the vaccines, the breast milk antibodies are not working efficiently since “Nearly half of the 350,000 new infant HIV infections occurring annually are transmitted via breast milk” mentioned in Science Daily. However, it is still a lower number than the number of babies contracting HIV from birth. Even though, it is not very effective, scientists are looking forward to use this new information into the vaccine and as they say it can probably reduce the amount of people getting HIV in the world.
Happily as able to see, scientists and science are improving day by day and fortunately impacting HIV/ AIDS in a positive way. With some new researches and new ideas to reduce the contraction of HIV, hopefully in years science will be able to let people contract no HIV at all.
Bibliography:
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"Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)." Welcome to AIDS.gov. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/prevention/emerging-topics/pre-exposure-prophylaxis/index.html>.
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"USAID Health: HIV/AIDS, News/Info, Frequently Asked Questions." U.S. Agency for International Development. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/aids/News/aidsfaq.html>.
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"AIDS Information, Education, Action, Awareness | How Is HIV Transmitted?" AIDS Information, Education, Action, Awareness. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.aids.org/topics/aids-faqs/how-is-hiv-transmitted/>.
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"What Is HIV/AIDS?" Welcome to AIDS.gov. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/overview/what-is-hiv-aids/>.
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"Breast Milk Antibody Fights HIV but Needs Boost, Study Finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 Sept. 2011. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919113337.htm>.
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"Researchers Discuss Challenges to Developing Broadly Protective HIV Vaccines." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 07 Sept. 2011. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110907171529.htm>.