CWRU researchers to announce breakthrough in anti-HIV gel for women

[OhioChick]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

February 04, 2008 00:01AM

At a major AIDS conference in Boston today, scientific players that include Case Western Reserve University will describe their dogged and ultimately successful attempt to reinvent an anti-HIV molecule known as PSC-Rantes that though potent, was also incredibly expensive to produce.

"We always felt we had something very promising here," said Dr. Michael Lederman, one of the key collaborators on the project and the director of the Case Center for AIDS Research based at University Hospitals.

"We have been effectively dealing with those challenges and resolving them. That is what it takes to develop a strategy. When we started this, no one thought this would make any sense."

The three cheaper versions were found using a relatively new technique that generates a vast pool of like-minded biological candidates bearing some resemblance to the Rantes molecule. Not only did these molecules appear to be just as good as the Rantes molecule in preventing viral entry into cells, but they also didn't come with the complicated assembling instructions of their Cadillac-style cousin.



Read more: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/02/case_western_reserve_universit.html

[HelenWheels]

1. I can hear the right wing nutters gearing up for this one

just like for the shot they want to give to teenage girls to prevent cancer. The right wingers live in la la land pretending that men never have affairs and bring diseases home to their wives - or is it that they think the women deserve it if their men "have" to cheat on them. (Have you heard the ad from Dr. Laura where she blames wives for their husbands straying?)

[drm604]

2. I was thinking the same thing.

It seems like they actually want people to get sick from sex. :shrug:

[xchrom]

3. you'll hear plenty of that crazy stuff right here at DU. recommend --

[OhioChick]

4. Look at the Comment Section

Following the Article:

"Look for the GOP bible-thumper crowd to make at attempt to ban/restrict this, just like with the HPV vaccine and the Morning After pill."

[xchrom]

5. oh yeah -- just figures. nt

[knitter4democracy]

6. Hubby's alma mater--good news!

Go CWRU-SOM!

This is great news! Now researchers can take this and run with it!