# Breakthrough in HIV research
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [December 16, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154 "2004-12-16T15:25:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/1 "2004-12-16T15:25:47Z")
[Rutgers researchers may have stopped HIV.](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041212.waids1212/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/)
Not really “mundane” or “pointless”, but it wasn’t a question or a debate, but I still thought this might be of interest to the Dope.
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/2 "2004-12-16T15:31:13Z")
Well.
Huh.
That’d be cool.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/3 "2004-12-16T16:06:20Z")
I always knew that New Jersey would be good for something someday.
Seriously, that sounds awesome. I will also keep my fingers crossed.
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### Author:  [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/4 "2004-12-16T16:27:43Z")
::crosses fingers::
::crosses toes too::
Please, c’mon. Good news has been kinda rare lately…
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### Author:  [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/5 "2004-12-16T16:47:59Z")
_Allllllright_ people! Let’s get back to fucking!
(I am so pissed that I was too young to enjoy the “Free Love” era)
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### Author:  [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/6 "2004-12-16T17:00:09Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#):
>
> (I am so pissed that I was too young to enjoy the “Free Love” era)
HIV/AIDS ain’t the only STD out there, don’t forget. You still need to use condoms every time.
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### Author:  [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/7 "2004-12-16T17:06:40Z")
> [@Homebrew](#):
>
> HIV/AIDS ain’t the only STD out there, don’t forget. You still need to use condoms every time.
Wah. But you’re right, of course. There’s antibiotic resistant STD’s out there now, which weren’t a problem for my folks.
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### Author:  [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/8 "2004-12-16T19:52:25Z")
> [@WhyNot](#):
>
> Wah. But you’re right, of course. There’s antibiotic resistant STD’s out there now, which weren’t a problem for my folks.
And quite a number of different varieties of hepatitis, among the other virus-borne STDs like herpes and HPV. I mean, if you really love someone, you might be willing to share their case of herpes, but some strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer. Neither one can be eradicated, or completely controlled with medications. And both are rampant among sexually active people in urban areas. Stick with barrier protection, porn, or mutual masturbation.
But if this is what they’re saying it is - a whole new class of HIV drugs - this is really, really fucking exciting news. Does anyone know where more information can be found?
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/9 "2004-12-16T20:12:45Z")
> [@Excalibre](#):
>
> But if this is what they’re saying it is - a whole new class of HIV drugs - this is really, really fucking exciting news. Does anyone know where more information can be found?
Here’s a [background story](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/01/020103074546.htm) I found in Science Daily from almost 3 years ago.
> [@](#):
>
> Rutgers cell biologist Bonnie L. Firestein is charting a new course in the search for an effective AIDS treatment. Firestein and her colleagues have identified a protein known as HP68 that is critical to the formation of the AIDS virus’ outer shell or capsid. Treatments that target this protein could stop HIV production while avoiding the severe side effects found with current treatments.
>
> Firestein, an assistant professor in Rutgers’ department of cell biology and neuroscience, and Jaisri Lingappa, assistant professor of pathobiology at the University of Washington, are the co-principal investigators on this project.
>
> “The identification of this protein by members of Dr. Jaisri Lingappa’s laboratory, with whom I collaborated, is particularly exciting since it opens up new avenues for the treatment of HIV infection and, potentially, AIDS,” said Firestein.
I’ve not found anything more contemporary.
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### Author:  [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/10 "2004-12-16T20:56:53Z")
Great news.
A little too late for about 35 friends of mine who died in the 1980’s, but nonetheless, great news!
My guess is that if it really works, it will also lead to a series of similar drugs for other diseases.
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### Author:  [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/11 "2004-12-16T21:13:47Z")
What would be truly fantastic would be to find something that would eradicate the virus itself - an actual cure. But how do you ‘kill’ something that isn’t really alive? That’s the whole problem.
But if they have found something that can prevent replication and is easier to use and safer, that’s great too. Let’s just hope that it can be made available to _everyone_ who needs it …
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### Author:  [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/12 "2004-12-16T21:16:19Z")
> [@DMark](#):
>
> Great news.
>
> A little too late for about 35 friends of mine who died in the 1980’s, but nonetheless, great news!
Yes, I miss some people too. ☹
This is awesome news.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/13 "2004-12-17T00:04:14Z")
> [@Excalibre](#):
>
> this is really, really fucking exciting news
Or, needless to say, this is really fucking exciting fucking news.
I’ll check with my wife. She’s at the CDC and will know something about this or will know who to ask.
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### Author:  [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/14 "2004-12-17T00:17:57Z")
I found [another article](http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1102833719277730.xml) that seems to have a few more details.
> [@](#):
>
> The drugs, they believe, can destroy HIV, the deadly virus that causes AIDS.
> To do this, the drugs do as HIV does when it devours immune systems: They change shape. Put another way, DAPYs are a master key that can fit any strand of the virus, regardless of how it tries to disguise itself.
That’s the part that fascinates me - how can the drug change shape and adapt as quickly as the virus does? I’ll be reading their research when it’s published, that’s for sure.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/15 "2004-12-17T02:53:20Z")
Well, I hope it is a breakthrough, but it doesn’t even look like this stuff has been tested on animals yet, people. As a parent with a kid with CF, I’ve seen lots of things like this touted as an “exciting advance” in the early goings, only to disappear.
I’ve seen so many promising starts like this fail to lead anywhere.
But better treatments have to start somewhere.
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/16 "2004-12-17T03:06:10Z")
_crosses toes, fingers, holds breath, wishes on stars, holds rusty nails and horseshoes and rabbit’s feet and four-leaf clovers and good luck charms, throws pennies in wells and fountains_
If this is for real…!
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### Author:  [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/17 "2004-12-17T18:59:44Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#):
>
> Well, I hope it is a breakthrough, but it doesn’t even look like this stuff has been tested on animals yet, people. As a parent with a kid with CF, I’ve seen lots of things like this touted as an “exciting advance” in the early goings, only to disappear.
>
> I’ve seen so many promising starts like this fail to lead anywhere.
>
> But better treatments have to start somewhere.
You have a kid with CF? Are you talking about **elfbabe**?
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### Author:  [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/18 "2004-12-17T23:05:47Z")
I emailed the linked article around to a few friends whom I thought might be interested in this news. One of them has responded to me stating that he has heard of “breakthroughs” such as this before, BUT every time a lab announces they are close to finding an actual cure, they immediately lose their funding.
My friend believes that this is due to the cold-hearted pharmaceutical companies who would rather manufacture drugs to treat the symptoms of HIV infection / AIDS, rather than cure the patient. (His reasoning: HIV infection incurable = chronic, frequent health problems = need for lots and lots of varying medications over the course of a person’s life = huge financial windfalls for pharmaceutical companies. / cure for HIV = one treatment only for limited duration = less profits for Big Pharma.)
I, personally, have never heard of any lab losing their funding just as they were on the verge of finding a cure for AIDS. I asked my friend for specific, verifiable example,s and he didn’t know any offhand. But I HAVE read “And the Band Played On” which does recount verifiable, chilling examples of the general medical community turning its’ back on “the gay plague” during the early 80s, so I’m not ready to dismiss this as a conspiracy theory out of hand. Has anyone else ever heard of cases like this?
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/19 "2004-12-17T23:39:18Z")
> [@Excalibre](#):
>
> You have a kid with CF? Are you talking about **elfbabe**?
nope
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### Author:  [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakthrough-in-hiv-research/280154/20 "2004-12-18T02:18:15Z")
Clearly the best news I’ve read in a long time. And I can’t remember the last time a simple news story made me cry. _sniffsniff_
I know, I know, it’s not a cure, it’s not for certain. But it would mean so much to take a step in that direction; while I know the cocktail has lengthened and improved the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS, it’s not the same as eliminating the virus from someone’s body. It’s still going to catch you.
Ach, I’m rambling. RIP to those already lost and crossing my fingers for the future.