# Some promising news about AIDS

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 18, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814 "2009-05-18T03:41:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814/1 "2009-05-18T03:41:35Z")

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[Link](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30793975/)

> [@](#):
>
> Unsuccessful at developing vaccines that the cause the body’s natural immune system to battle the virus, researchers are testing inserting a gene into the muscle that can cause it to produce protective antibodies against HIV.
> 
> The new method worked in mice and now has proved successful in monkeys, too…
> 
> \<snip\>
> 
> That doesn’t mean an AIDS vaccine for people is in the wings, Johnson said. Years of work may lie ahead before a product is ready for human use.
> 
> \<snip\>
> 
> None of the immunized monkeys developed AIDS and only three showed any indication of SIV infection. Even a year later they had high concentrations of the protective antibodies in the blood.
> 
> All six unimmunized monkeys became infected; four died during the experiment.

It sounds promising. I hope for the sake of those infected or at risk that this treatment works in humans.

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**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814/2 "2009-05-18T17:12:30Z")

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Here’s hoping.

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814/3 "2009-05-18T18:26:10Z")

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My monkeys are very hopeful.

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**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814/4 "2009-05-18T19:08:45Z")

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Well, it’s always good to hear that we haven’t reached a dead end, and that progress is apparently being made. It’s not much, but I won’t complain at good news.

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**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814/5 "2009-05-18T23:59:37Z")

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How well would a treatment like this work for people with AIDS already? It sounds like you’d have to have a healthy immune system before receiving the treatment for it to work.

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**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-promising-news-about-aids/496814/6 "2009-05-19T00:07:14Z")

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I’d take a treatment for people who’ve got HIV but not AIDS any day. But yes, it’d be good to know.