Cow's milk can be potentially developed into affordable creams that can help HIV, a study has claimed.
Lead scientist from University of Melbourne Marit Kramski found that when pregant cows were vaccinated with an HIV protein, the first milk produced by the cow after giving birth, called colostrum, produced high antibodies to protect its newborn against disease.
Researchers were now planning to test the effectiveness and safety of the milk before turning it into cream, which will hopefully allow women to protect themselves against contracting the virus during sex, without relying on men, the Herald Sun reported.
However, the final result could be a decade off. The researchers were able to inhibit the virus from infecting cells when combing the virus cells with milk.
"We think the antibodies bind to the surface of the virus and block the protein which needs to be freed to get in contact with human cells- like a key and lock system. If the key's not accessible or you change the key, you can't open the door," Kramski said.
She had partnered with Australian biotechnology company Immuron Ltd to develop the milk, and would continue working with them to produce a preventative cream." We have the antibodies at the moment- the next step will be formulation," Kramski said.
Condoms were "cheap and easy" but not an option for everyone with millions of people getting infected with HIV every year, she added.
"A lot women, especially in Africa or South America they don't have the power to say you need to use a condom before we have sex. This milk looks like it can be a cheap, easy new prevention tool, because if you use drugs it's really expensive," she said.
NEW USE OF STEM CELLS
Researchers claim to have discovered stem cells that play a decisive role in new blood vessels growth, paving way for treatment of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki, Finland, are learning to isolate and efficiently produce these stem cells found in blood vessel walls which could lead to treatment of diseases.
The growth of new blood vessels, also known as angiogenesis, is needed in adults when repairing damaged tissue or organs. Unfortunately, malignant tumours are also capable of growing new blood vessels to receive oxygen and nutrients.
In other words, the treatment of diseases would benefit from two types of methods:ones that help launch the process of angiogenesis and ones that make it possible to prevent the process.
Medications that prevent the growth of new blood vessels have already been introduced, but their effectiveness and long-term efficacy leave much to be desired.
Lead scientist from University of Melbourne Marit Kramski found that when pregant cows were vaccinated with an HIV protein, the first milk produced by the cow after giving birth, called colostrum, produced high antibodies to protect its newborn against disease.
However, the final result could be a decade off. The researchers were able to inhibit the virus from infecting cells when combing the virus cells with milk.
"We think the antibodies bind to the surface of the virus and block the protein which needs to be freed to get in contact with human cells- like a key and lock system. If the key's not accessible or you change the key, you can't open the door," Kramski said.
She had partnered with Australian biotechnology company Immuron Ltd to develop the milk, and would continue working with them to produce a preventative cream." We have the antibodies at the moment- the next step will be formulation," Kramski said.
Condoms were "cheap and easy" but not an option for everyone with millions of people getting infected with HIV every year, she added.
"A lot women, especially in Africa or South America they don't have the power to say you need to use a condom before we have sex. This milk looks like it can be a cheap, easy new prevention tool, because if you use drugs it's really expensive," she said.
NEW USE OF STEM CELLS
Researchers from the University of Helsinki, Finland, are learning to isolate and efficiently produce these stem cells found in blood vessel walls which could lead to treatment of diseases.
The growth of new blood vessels, also known as angiogenesis, is needed in adults when repairing damaged tissue or organs. Unfortunately, malignant tumours are also capable of growing new blood vessels to receive oxygen and nutrients.
In other words, the treatment of diseases would benefit from two types of methods:ones that help launch the process of angiogenesis and ones that make it possible to prevent the process.
Medications that prevent the growth of new blood vessels have already been introduced, but their effectiveness and long-term efficacy leave much to be desired.
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