When It Rains...

 

A is Articles & Abundance.  Both of which I found this morning.  I found 3 & none of them are too long or jargony.  I'll start with the topic of CRISPR.  Many are aware this is a method to edit cellular DNA.  This has been a topic of many medical research issues.  This piece covers an updated report on its use in fighting  dormant HIV hiding in a body.

This next article is taking the same approach, but with drugs.  The technique goes after proteins in HIV affected cells, called Nef.  This approach has been used mostly in cancer studies.  The method uses PROTACs, a molecule that binds Nef proteins.  This will signal the cell is degraded & needs to be eliminated.   In doing so, removing virus.

The last article is disappointing,  It's about the fight against HIV's failure to make aware & educate people about the topic & options available to the public.  The piece has a video about how many at-risk Americans are unaware of PrEP.  It was bad enough the numbers aware were so low, but also what was being defined as at-risk.  The people shown in the video were all mature, Black women.  Maybe this was a topic piece or for done for some limited exposure.  But I think it missed the mark.  I don't support PrEP, but people should know everything they can about HIV & the available options. 

That's all for now.  Have a look at these.  The video info is in the here & now.  The drug & CRISPR pieces are in development.  Take care.

Cya...

Not So Dormant...

 

There have been a few pieces lately like this article refuting the alleged dormancy of HIV+ people on regimens.  Even if the meds are working & the numbers are undetectable, it doesn't mean the virus is inactive.  While not as active, the virus is still impacting the immune system even when suppressed.  That can lead to inflammation & other health consequences for those living with HIV.  

This has been a concern.  Just how inert does the virus become while dormant?  Apparently not enough not to do harm.  While this may not impact whether of not the person can pass on the virus, it could affect their health.

That's all for now.  We actually made it through a day without issues yesterday.  We're hoping for a repeat.  Maybe we can get on a roll.  Take care.

Cya...

Forked Attack On HIV...

 

This article is about research in using Venetoclax in tandem with normal HIV regimens.  Venetoclax is normally used to treat various blood cancers.   This is a good piece, definitely worth the read.  This approach will target the dormant virus while the primary regimen continues fighting the active.  Venetoclax won't completely kill off the virus, but it does target the virus' ability to reactivate or reproduce.  While it doesn't completely stop either, it does delay it by weeks & any delayal is good.

This is an interesting & something to keep up with.  There will definitely be more developed off of this approach.  Another step has been taken in the fight against HIV.

Cya...

New Approach Maybe...

Killing off HIV is nearly impossible due to its ability to hide in dormant pools in the body.  Researchers have tried to"shock" the virus "awake" so meds can deal with it.  It's also been referred to as, "Kick and kill."  The approach was so overly powerful it could've done more harm that good.

According to this piece, new med, Ciapavir, may be able to coax the virus out of it's dormancy & allow it to be eliminated.  This is a short piece & the drug is apparently so new I can't find anything about it online.  The only references I can find are in relation to articles like this piece.  

Will this work?  Maybe.   An approach that could treat hidden pools of HIV would seem to be a virtual cure.  Even if it took a while, eventually the virus would be dead.

Cya...

Reservoir...

This is another article detailing attempts to destroy dormant HIV virus hidden within the body.  The reservoir is mostly unaffected by conventional methods & medications.  Other methods have been tried for this, such as the "kick & kill" or "shock & kill".  Both of those showed some promise, but also some major health concerns with the methods themselves.  

How will this method differ?   Will it work?  Those are questions yet to be answered.  However, this is a necessary step, if the virus is ever to be actually cured & not just prevented.

Take care.

Cya...