DC-SIGN -Another Broad spectrum therapy in the making

[veritas]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322083850.htm

The compound inhibits the transfer of HIV from one cell to another.

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[veritas]

More info on DC-SIGN by Aidsmeds:

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_dcsign_microbicide_1667_18216.shtml

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[ATorrez]

I'll never understand how something that hasn't even been tested in humans in even the smallest of trials can be declared "promising". It's very easy to attack HIV in the petri dish, there are countless substances that are active against HIV in a perti dish. There are countless substances that are active against HIV in animals, but failed human clinical trials.

I would think that after almost 30 years of research we would learn to be a little hesistant about knee jerk reactions, and we'd have more of a "wait and see" approach. It's very disappointing to see all of the "next holy grail" threads, then open them up to see that they haven't even been tested in humans at all.

[veritas]

ATorrez,

What makes this compound promising is that it blocks the virus from attaching to cd4 cells using DC-SIGN,thus potentially preventing infection.

 Don't get hung up on the vocabulary. Remember we are dealing with potentials and theoreticals in the research forum. I gurantee you, when the silver bullet is found, it will be broadcasted as a media event all over the world. Who knows, you might hear about it here, before it's cool. Keep expectations realistic. Use this forum as an informational outlet as to how the research is progressing overall.

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