JUST ON THE NEWS (UK)

Post Reply New Topic

World First... A man has recovered from HIV without any treatment. He tested positive over 14months ago and a recent test has come out negative.

He initially wanted to sue the hospital for negligence but they have proven that his initial results were correct and subsequent tests were also correct. Tests showed that he was coping with the virus well, and the last test has shown no HIV present at all. There is no explanation yet as to how/why this happened. Suffice to say it might be a breakthrough. It is already known that crocodiles have an immune system that kills all trace of the virus, but a human immune system is totally different - mybe this guy has the answer?

As an asside to this - do you think that a cure for HIV would be really bad? - I know it would be wonderful for the sufferers of HIV but if there was a cure then maybe we might have an influx of other diseases/infections because people think it is safe to be promiscuous again.

I think that has happened anyway wooyay, a lot of people are a lot less careful than they used to be, since HIV is now manageable - not taking into account what a ballache it is to manage, and that people still develop AIDS and die. A cure for HIV would be a massive benefit particularly for Africa and the Far East, not that Big Pharma would be inclined to let the drugs go at cost....

dunno if i actually agree with that. there's been a rise in STDs again, but mainly cos there's a new generation of young people becoming sexually active who haven't been taught about AIDS/HIV. it happened after the furore in the 80s died down (i remember it well - i was working in AIDS/HIV research at the time), when there was a rise in STDs after the massive fall due to the blanket coverage of AIDS and condom use. then there was another fall, when another advertising campaign started. and so on, and so forth. it's one of them cycles...

the bottom line is that if you have HIV infection, you will develop AIDS and die, as far as anyone knows at this time.

i agree with the second bit, though. as for STDs rising if there were a cure for AIDS, then there should be constant campaigns to educate people about how to avoid them. let's face it, telling people not to have sex is not going to work.

has this bloke had more than one negative test result? /me wants more information...

edit: ...and gets it here
it appears he's only had one test, and refuses to have any confirmatory testing. hmmm... call me a sceptic, but i'd want at least one more test done.

Even though they find cure for one type of HIV, the virus could mutate and form a new more powerful strain of the virus, that could be even more deadly than the one that has been cured.

For there is more than one HIV.

Is that better.

Last edited by kevv729 on 13 Nov 2005, 4:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.

hasn't mutated so far.

and, sorry to be a pedant (well, i'm not, actually), but HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, so there's no need for calling it HIV virus. (one of my pet annoyances - even the BBC gets this wrong, and it drives me potty).

HIV may not have mutated so far but many viruses do in the end. When and if the HIV does and it probably will one day it could be even more deadly than it is now.

"probably" is too strong. "possibly" might do it, but even then, i'd doubt it.

viruses mutate for a variety of reasons, same as anything else. however, successful mutations - those which are passed on - are those which enable the organism to survive more easily or more efficiently - reproduce more quickly, or get into the host cell more efficeintly, as examples. there's little point in HIV mutating, as it's pretty well perfect for its job, at the moment. i'm not saying it won't, but there's no need for it to do so, from a biological point of view.

viruses are clever little things in the way they operate, which is why they're impossible to cure for them - there's no cure for the common cold, either, which is why it's so pointless taking medicines for it. vaccines aren't actually a cure, as such, as they are prophylactic.

oh, i'm on a roll - ask me about viruses - it's all flooding back to me...

Wow, I'm getting more impressed by the minute.
So, please do, tell us about viruses.
Unless of course it will make you go all 'potty'.

What about these bird flu viruses they are always mutating. What makes a bird flu virus mutate and in end we get this flu virus, so how does it mutate from bird to humans. I have watched many TV programs but they just seem skim over it.

HIV will with probability mutate someday especically as the years go by.

well, i don't mind answering specific questions, if people ask...

without qualification, that statement is meaningless, im afraid. what exactly are you basing this opinon on?

Over time most viruses have mutated some may have not but in time viruses usually do it is in the probabilities that they do. So I think in a scientific way that they might mutate one day, I am saying its not going to today but the probabilities are there that they will mutate in time.

Just look at Bactria even they mutate quit regularly too.

erm, you're just saying the same thing in different ways, kevv.

and bacteria and viruses are different types of organisms.

the mutations which every organism goes through might be one thing, but to come up with a different, more virulent strain is another, which is what you're talking about.

it's the word "probably" i've got a problem with.

You are stuck on because of one word "probably" make Me laugh would You.

Can You answer my bird flu virus one then please.

Yeah I know Bactria and Viruses are different type of organisms and they infect us in different ways too. Even may mutate in different ways as well. But they do mutate in more virulent strains, even especically when drugs or medications are used over many years of use. I think the drugs or medications used to day might even change or mutate any Viruses or Bactria. That is why I see the HIV one day mutating "probably".

drugs and medication don't work on viruses, which is why antibiotics aren't used for the common cold or flu, unless there is a secondary, bacterial infection. so viruses don't mutate to become resistant to drugs.

i'm stuck on the word "probably" due to the scaremongering effect it can have. having worked in AIDS research in the early 80s in the UK, and having seen all the appalling consequences on certain out groups, i think a little judicious thinking before blanket statements is wise. i also have a thing about accuracy and knowledge, having seen how dangerous the effects can be when they are lacking.

They already think that. A *huge* part of the problem is the conservative religious zealots (including the one in the White House) who fight tooth and nail to prevent teens from learning about condoms (largely by passing laws to deny funding to organizations that stray from the right wing message). Kids are told that abstaining until marriage is the only way to avoid pregnancy, STDs and AIDS. Then they hear about their friends having sex without getting pregnant or catching diseases and decide it's just another of those Big Lies and/or Stupid Age-Discriminatory Rules that parents tell kids to make them behave.