Stem cells have cured an HIV+ patient

[TragicHero84]

http://www.aidsmap.com/page/1577949/

Doctors who carried out a stem cell transplant on an HIV-infected man with leukaemia in 2007 say they now believe the man to have been cured of HIV infection as a result of the treatment, which introduced stem cells which happened to be resistant to HIV infection.

The man received bone marrow from a donor who had natural resistance to HIV infection; this was due to a genetic profile which led to the CCR5 co-receptor being absent from his cells. The most common variety of HIV uses CCR5 as its ?docking station?, attaching to it in order to enter and infect CD4 cells, and people with this mutation are almost completely protected against infection.

The case was first reported at the 2008 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston, and Berlin doctors subsequently published a detailed case history in the New England Journal of Medicine in February 2009.

They have now published a follow-up report in the journal Blood, arguing that based on the results of extensive tests.

I just wonder if this is a breakthrough in HIV treatment and cures, or if it was just a case of being a miracle for this one guy.

 

[Flishiz]

Eh, it's a little of both. It requires a bit of a unique setup for both the donor and patient, so we're nowhere close to having a pharma mass-producing it.

 

[Julianking93]

This is just another reason why I can't understand why people get all pissy over stem cell research.

I'd like to see those anti stem cell research groups refute this now.

 

[Woodsey]

And what did God do today?

This is very good news; hopefully it really is clear and they can start providing this for other people.

 

[Julianking93]

Not people. Religious people. Big difference.

Ah yes, because they're not real people

Even non religious people get angry over stem cell research. Usually because they only listen to the majority who don't like it and they won't do any research of their own on the subject, but still, it's not just crazy fundamentalists who do it.

 

[TaboriHK]

Not people. Religious people. Big difference.

Ah yes, because they're not real people

Even non religious people get angry over stem cell research. Usually because they only listen to the majority who don't like it and they won't do any research of their own on the subject, but still, it's not just crazy fundamentalists who do it.

No. 'People' is everyone. 'Religious people' are people with an agenda that is related to old thinking. The people against stem cell research are either uninformed or biased (or both), but the vast majority of them are religious.

 

[The Rockerfly]

In the words of Peter Griffin - "Why are we not funding this?"

Stem cell research just sounds like the next step forward, I know nothing of science but some of stories I've heard are incredible

 

[VanityGirl]

I'm going to assume this is one part miracle guy and one part donor.

In my mind, this would be a much bigger deal if it were purely the stems cells themself that caused the man to be healed.

I'd have to read more into it personally, I'm all for a cure for HIV, but I'm not going to jump on a hype boat only to have it sink on its first outing.

 

[Arawn.Chernobog]

Keep up the research, also can we get some funding for space exploration ffs? Earth is a S-hole.

PS: On regards of people opposing research and development of any kind, you're the reason the human race is still unable to achieve it's full potential and I wish you all a painful demise.

 

[Julianking93]

Not people. Religious people. Big difference.

Ah yes, because they're not real people

Even non religious people get angry over stem cell research. Usually because they only listen to the majority who don't like it and they won't do any research of their own on the subject, but still, it's not just crazy fundamentalists who do it.

No. 'People' is everyone. 'Religious people' are people with an agenda that is related to old thinking. The people against stem cell research are either uninformed or biased (or both), but the vast majority of them are religious.

Yes, and so is the vast majority of just... people. Most people are religious (if only be a few percent) and therefor, the majority are biased against stem cell research like this.

There are still non religious people who are against the idea of using stem cells, and while there are few of them, they do still exist.

 

[My name is Fiction]

This is just another reason why I can't understand why people get all pissy over stem cell research.

I'd like to see those anti stem cell research groups refute this now.

"Anti stem cell research groups don't need a reason to be against it if there *Catholic*,
Religion and reason seem absent in our society, but hay thats an even bigger question that would requier a lot more then one thread to be solved."

 

[TaboriHK]

Not people. Religious people. Big difference.

Ah yes, because they're not real people

Even non religious people get angry over stem cell research. Usually because they only listen to the majority who don't like it and they won't do any research of their own on the subject, but still, it's not just crazy fundamentalists who do it.

No. 'People' is everyone. 'Religious people' are people with an agenda that is related to old thinking. The people against stem cell research are either uninformed or biased (or both), but the vast majority of them are religious.

Yes, and so is the vast majority of just... people. Most people are religious (if only be a few percent) and therefor, the majority are biased against stem cell research like this.

There are still non religious people who are against the idea of using stem cells, and while there are few of them, they do still exist.

You're nitpicking a legitimate distinction while pointing out the smallest minority group this country could ever possibly have as if they somehow make the picture more complicated. Yes, there are 45 people out 360 million who don't believe in God OR stem cell research. What's your point?

 

[Mr. Omega]

On one hand: Even if this does lead to an eventual cure, it could takes years, maybe decades for something that the common person can easily get.

On the other hand: There is the chance this could lead to a cure for HIV. That by itself is awesome.

On a different hand: Well, this can help promote stem cell research

On the opposite of that hand: Religious nuts and anti-stem cell people are more than likely going to say that this was solely a miracle of God. Or find a way to completely ignore it like they've been doing for the past decade or so .

 

[Dastardly]

http://www.aidsmap.com/page/1577949/

Doctors who carried out a stem cell transplant on an HIV-infected man with leukaemia in 2007 say they now believe the man to have been cured of HIV infection as a result of the treatment, which introduced stem cells which happened to be resistant to HIV infection.

The man received bone marrow from a donor who had natural resistance to HIV infection; this was due to a genetic profile which led to the CCR5 co-receptor being absent from his cells. The most common variety of HIV uses CCR5 as its ?docking station?, attaching to it in order to enter and infect CD4 cells, and people with this mutation are almost completely protected against infection.

The case was first reported at the 2008 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston, and Berlin doctors subsequently published a detailed case history in the New England Journal of Medicine in February 2009.

They have now published a follow-up report in the journal Blood, arguing that based on the results of extensive tests.

I just wonder if this is a breakthrough in HIV treatment and cures, or if it was just a case of being a miracle for this one guy.

An unfortunately large cross-section of our population will read this headline as "Abortions Used to Save Gays." That's why this isn't going to be front-page stuff, I'm sorry to say.

 

[unicron44]

In the words of Peter Griffin - "Why are we not funding this?"

Stem cell research just sounds like the next step forward, I know nothing of science but some of stories I've heard are incredible

I agree with this animated man.

 

[Julianking93]

You're nitpicking a legitimate distinction while pointing out the smallest minority group this country could ever possibly have as if they somehow make the picture more complicated. Yes, there are 45 people out 360 million who don't believe in God OR stem cell research. What's your point?

My point is that not just religious people can be against stem cell research. Yes, you can call it nitpicking, but that's not what I was doing. I was only pointing out that not only crazy religious people can be against this.

Just regular crazy people can too.

 

[rokkolpo]

DAMN IT!
Why is it that the thing with most practical use on the planet has to be the least ethical.

If I was god I'd make hot-wings the equivalent of stem cells.