Curing HIV

Researchers have focused on white blood cells called T cells while looking for a cure. T cells are a part of the immune system the virus uses as a host. Recently researchers have discovered that this virus can be found not only in T cells but also in large white blood cells found in different tissues in the body called macrophages. This is a big discovery because it shows that T cells are not the only cells the virus can infect. For a cure to be found, researchers now have to look for therapeutic interventions that target two different cells. I think this is a big deal because finding a cure is now going to take longer since researches have to target multiple types of cells.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170417114806.htm

https://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nm.4319.html

Cute and Cuddly Koalas- Dead from Chlamydia

Researchers have been pondering the question “Why do some koalas die from Chlamydia and an AIDs-like retrovirus where as others manage to avid contracting the sexually transmitted diseases?” Well the use of condoms were obviously not the reason, it seems the answer lies rather with genetics. Unfortunately public health officials will not be able to claim responsibility for the decrease in STD’s in Koalas. Scientists based in Australia have found a gene they call the “interferon gamma (IFN-g) gene” that appears to help boost koala immune systems.

While koalas contracting Chlamydia seems to be rather comical, it is actually leading the population towards extinction at an alarming rate. Over half of the koalas in nature have Chlamydia. Chlamydia can lead to infertility, infections, blindness and death. The infection with Chlamydia also opens the door for an AID’s-like retrovirus called immunity-compromising koala retrovirus (KoRV). This combination is proving especially dangerous to these cute and cuddly animals, which actually smell surprisingly good. Koalas have now been placed on the threatened species list. Populations have dropped by at least forty percent, as high as eighty percent in some areas.

Scientists were surprised to find that the koalas in the state of Victoria seemed to be rather unaffected by these diseases. Recent research has reveled that these koalas have the IFN-g gene that allows them to have a much higher natural immunity to these infections. It is possible that this gene may be able to be developed into a vaccination. Researchers hope to be able to develop an effective vaccination or treatment within a few years in hopes of saving koalas.

Original Article- http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2013/04/16/chlamydia-killing-koalas-genetics-cure/

Additional Article- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/21/koala-deaths-chlamydia-retrovirus-vaccine-genome