Aids cure theorem

[lightoftruth]

In one of my many random inventing moments i stumbled upon a possilbe way that you could go about "curing" aids. Its not a cure in the traditional sense because it doesnt actually kill or prevent aids. My theory is this.

Study the dna of AIDS virus and find the area of DNA that cuases it to attack the immune system. With that it may be possible to create genetically modified white blood cells that have the same immuno capabilites but make it so that the aids virus does not recognise to attack them.

Also could you genetically engineer a strain of virus that attack the aids virus itself?

[LazyGun]

Interesting ideas, but a little in the realms of scifi at the moment light.

I cannot see how it would be possible, given our current scientific development, to come up with something that could genetically modify white blood cells in the manner you describe.

The problem with combating aids, be it some form of targetted attack on the virus itself, or via passive resistance, ie a vaccine, is that you need to find a marker common to all 11 subtypes of HIV, but not present in any other human tissue. Add to that the fact that all viruses, in common with all living organisms will mutate, and this approach becomes very difficult indeed.

Despite this, a "polyvalent" vaccine, consisting of several clades (subtypes) of HIV, which may differ from region to region is probably the most likely short to medium term solution, over and above the far more effective preventative methods!

[Peter Pedant]

I think Lazy Gun is being a little negative about all this.

Your ideas are as good as anyones in the this battle

[jake-the-peg]

When Aids was first discovered there was a bit of "ho hum business as usual, we'll sort out a cure in the next few years".

People went away and worked on it and suddenly found the virus had changed beyond all recognition. Suddenly they realised that they were dealing with something that mutated faster than anything we'd ever seen before.

'Flu mutates quickly - that's why there's a different vaccine every year. But that's minor league compared to AIDS.

The problem with your approach is the same one that faces all approaches is that of identifying and hitting such a rapidly moving target. This is why the most effective treatments at the moment are combination therapies where cocktails of drugs are used.

[Champagne]

Interesting theory lightoftruth. Of course one of the biggest battles in fighting AIDS is bringing awareness to countries such as India and Africa, and of course Eastern Europe. You would still need to administer the anti-virus and this is not as easy at is seems.

Firstly, how would you go about testing the entire nation for HIV/AIDS? In Lesotho alone there is a plan in progress which is costing $12 million.

Even if we do find a cure we still need to bring awareness to drug users, prostitutes and to women in third world countries.

[stevie21]

AIDS would have been cured ages ago if it was this simple.