Sneaky, Sneaky
An article in the Journal Of Virology, reported on the BBC website on 29 July 2006, refers to experiments carried out at UCLA showing that HIV survives anti-retroviral treatment by hiding in the gut lining.
Even when blood tests indicate that the treatment is working, HIV continues to replicate in the gut suppressing immune function. In effect, the gut is acting as a viral reservoir that keeps patients from being rid of the virus. The authors of the study recommend earlier aggressive drug treatment and gut biopsies as a way of monitoring gut inflammation.
Fair enough. FuelMix is no expert on HIV, but wonders whether earlier aggressive drug treatment might lead to earlier drug resistance or higher toxicity levels. Nevertheless, the research appears to be important in highlighting the evasive characteristics of HIV.
….which also got FuelMix thinking. Didn’t conventional wisdom say it was generally safe to swallow cum (provided there was no gum bleeding) because HIV would be killed by stomach acids? Now we’re being told that HIV hides in the gut? FuelMix is a little confused.
Is the method of infection, ingestion or penetration relevant in determining HIV’s ability to survive?
© 2006 FuelMix All Rights Reserved
Even when blood tests indicate that the treatment is working, HIV continues to replicate in the gut suppressing immune function. In effect, the gut is acting as a viral reservoir that keeps patients from being rid of the virus. The authors of the study recommend earlier aggressive drug treatment and gut biopsies as a way of monitoring gut inflammation.
Fair enough. FuelMix is no expert on HIV, but wonders whether earlier aggressive drug treatment might lead to earlier drug resistance or higher toxicity levels. Nevertheless, the research appears to be important in highlighting the evasive characteristics of HIV.
….which also got FuelMix thinking. Didn’t conventional wisdom say it was generally safe to swallow cum (provided there was no gum bleeding) because HIV would be killed by stomach acids? Now we’re being told that HIV hides in the gut? FuelMix is a little confused.
Is the method of infection, ingestion or penetration relevant in determining HIV’s ability to survive?
© 2006 FuelMix All Rights Reserved
It's always been my intuiive feeling that we develop an immunity to our partners in time - but there's plenty of transfer of bacteria/virus material initially. Thus, the wisdom of monogamy. Or, to put it another way - the peril of promiscuity for an ordinarily monogamous individual. The thinking man needn't always wait for science to confirm the obvious.
ReplyDeleteCourse I'm a bit cautious ...