IAS announces that AIDS gene therapy enters human experiment stage
Release date: 2007-07-31 In a major breakthrough, the International AIDS Society (IAS) announced that gene therapy for AIDS has entered the human trial stage at the 4th International AIDS Society Conference held in Sydney, Australia on July 22nd. Over 5,000 participants from more than 130 countries attended this global event, where over 3,000 scientific papers and reports were presented. During a press conference on the 24th, IAS revealed significant progress in both genetic and drug-based approaches to combat HIV. One of the most promising developments is an innovative gene therapy approach that modifies T cells to help them recognize and fight the virus. John Rossi, a professor at the Beckman Institute in the U.S. and director of Molecular Biology at Hope City Hospital in California, confirmed that the first human trials are already underway at his institution. The hospital has recruited its first volunteer, who will receive genetically modified blood stem cells, with plans to enroll four more individuals in the study. This research, which began in the early 1990s, is known as intracellular immunotherapy. By altering the genetic makeup of T cells, scientists aim to make them more effective at identifying and neutralizing HIV before it can replicate. According to Rossi, the primary goal of the project is to either fully control the virus or significantly reduce its presence in patients' bodies. Meanwhile, Richard Berry from the University of Illinois shared additional findings suggesting that male circumcision could play a critical role in preventing the spread of HIV. He emphasized that promoting circumcision among men could drastically lower infection rates, especially among heterosexual populations. His research supports the idea that widespread circumcision could prevent millions of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa over the next decade. Health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS have endorsed this approach, stating that circumcision is an important tool in the fight against HIV transmission. Bailey, another researcher, highlighted that circumcision could reduce the risk of HIV transmission by up to 60% among heterosexual men. In addition, Joseph Ellen from the University of North Carolina introduced a new class of drugs called integrase inhibitors, which show greater effectiveness than existing anti-HIV medications. These drugs can suppress viral load to levels below the "dangerous" threshold while causing fewer side effects. This development offers hope for more efficient treatment options for people living with HIV. On a different note, Nigerian scholar Adiene Sajay pointed out that some traditional practices, such as washing with lemon juice after sexual activity, are not effective in preventing HIV. A survey of 300 female sex workers in Nigeria found no evidence that these methods offer any real protection against the virus. As the fight against AIDS continues, these new therapies and prevention strategies highlight the importance of ongoing research and global collaboration in tackling one of the world’s most persistent public health challenges. Hook Lock,Device Red Hook Lock,Security Hook Lock,Anti-Theft Peg Hook Lock Wenzhou Boshine Electronic Security Co. Ltd , https://www.boshine.com