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11/01/2005
Latest AIDS research offers fresh treatment hopes
A study by Medical Research Council scientists has revealed fresh hope for developing ways to combat HIV the virus which causes AIDS.
The research team at the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research has uncovered crucial differences in a gene found in rhesus monkeys and its human counterpart. The animal gene can prevent HIV infection, while the human gene cannot.
The study claims that these differences indicate that HIV infection would not have become established in humans, if the form of the gene present in certain monkeys had also been present in humans. It also reveals that only a single change in the gene is required to help it interfere with the replication process of the HIV virus and prevent infection.
MRC scientists believe that the new study, which is published in this week's edition of 'Current Biology', suggests that harnessing natural mechanisms of resistance to HIV infection might help discover new ways to fight AIDS.
Lead scientist on the project, Dr Jonathan Stoye, described the discovery as having "significant implications" for the development of gene therapy to help combat AIDS. He said: "In theory, it should be possible to take cells from an HIV-infected individual, make them resistant to HIV infection with the modified gene and reintroduce them into the patient. These cells could then block progression to AIDS."
The publication of the MRC's study coincides with the publication of a report into the extent to which stigma and discrimination affects both gay men and Africans infected with HIV in the UK.
Conducted by Sigma Research and commissioned by the National AIDS Trust, the 'Outsider Status' report found that a quarter of people living with HIV in the UK had experienced some form of discrimination. This was also frequently combined with ingrained racism, homophobia and anti-asylum feeling.
The report also discovered that stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS prevented many gay men from telling their family about their condition and also revealed that many sufferers are afraid to disclose the information about their status to employers for fear of dismissal.
The situation was worse among African people with HIV in the UK. The report revealed that while half those surveyed had revealing their status to those they lived with, two-thirds had not informed their employers, and a quarter had not told their GP.
The report was critical of the government's asylum and immigration polices, stating that they could "exacerbate HIV related stigma and discrimination.
Commenting on the report, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust, Deborah Jack, said: "This research highlights the continuing stigma associated with HIV and the discrimination faced by people living with the virus. Action is urgently needed by the government, communities and HIV organisations to break down this stigma, which has consequences for both individuals and for public health."
(KMcA/SP)
The research team at the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research has uncovered crucial differences in a gene found in rhesus monkeys and its human counterpart. The animal gene can prevent HIV infection, while the human gene cannot.
The study claims that these differences indicate that HIV infection would not have become established in humans, if the form of the gene present in certain monkeys had also been present in humans. It also reveals that only a single change in the gene is required to help it interfere with the replication process of the HIV virus and prevent infection.
MRC scientists believe that the new study, which is published in this week's edition of 'Current Biology', suggests that harnessing natural mechanisms of resistance to HIV infection might help discover new ways to fight AIDS.
Lead scientist on the project, Dr Jonathan Stoye, described the discovery as having "significant implications" for the development of gene therapy to help combat AIDS. He said: "In theory, it should be possible to take cells from an HIV-infected individual, make them resistant to HIV infection with the modified gene and reintroduce them into the patient. These cells could then block progression to AIDS."
The publication of the MRC's study coincides with the publication of a report into the extent to which stigma and discrimination affects both gay men and Africans infected with HIV in the UK.
Conducted by Sigma Research and commissioned by the National AIDS Trust, the 'Outsider Status' report found that a quarter of people living with HIV in the UK had experienced some form of discrimination. This was also frequently combined with ingrained racism, homophobia and anti-asylum feeling.
The report also discovered that stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS prevented many gay men from telling their family about their condition and also revealed that many sufferers are afraid to disclose the information about their status to employers for fear of dismissal.
The situation was worse among African people with HIV in the UK. The report revealed that while half those surveyed had revealing their status to those they lived with, two-thirds had not informed their employers, and a quarter had not told their GP.
The report was critical of the government's asylum and immigration polices, stating that they could "exacerbate HIV related stigma and discrimination.
Commenting on the report, Chief Executive of the National AIDS Trust, Deborah Jack, said: "This research highlights the continuing stigma associated with HIV and the discrimination faced by people living with the virus. Action is urgently needed by the government, communities and HIV organisations to break down this stigma, which has consequences for both individuals and for public health."
(KMcA/SP)
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The government has pledged to double its funding to the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to £6 million for 2004, it has been announced today. There are 60 million people infected with HIV/AIDS across the world – 20 million have already died leaving 14 million children without a parent and further 3 million sufferers will die this year.
Government doubles funding to UN Aids programme
The government has pledged to double its funding to the United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to £6 million for 2004, it has been announced today. There are 60 million people infected with HIV/AIDS across the world – 20 million have already died leaving 14 million children without a parent and further 3 million sufferers will die this year.
09 August 2004
Government has failed to tackle HIV effectively, report claims
The government has failed to effectively tackle the increasing problem of HIV in the UK and has broken promises made to the international community, a leading pressure group has claimed.
Government has failed to tackle HIV effectively, report claims
The government has failed to effectively tackle the increasing problem of HIV in the UK and has broken promises made to the international community, a leading pressure group has claimed.
24 June 2003
£50m funding unveiled for NHS gene research
The government is set to promote the development of genetics within the NHS following its decision to plough £50 million into the scheme over the next three years. The White Paper 'Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS' sets out the government's strategy.
£50m funding unveiled for NHS gene research
The government is set to promote the development of genetics within the NHS following its decision to plough £50 million into the scheme over the next three years. The White Paper 'Our Inheritance, Our Future - Realising the potential of genetics in the NHS' sets out the government's strategy.
26 November 2007
Stigma Still Attached To HIV, Survey Finds
One in seven young people in Britain would not be willing to remain friends with someone who was diagnosed with HIV, a survey by the British Red Cross has found. One in five young Britons also said that they would not care for a member of their family suffering from the disease.
Stigma Still Attached To HIV, Survey Finds
One in seven young people in Britain would not be willing to remain friends with someone who was diagnosed with HIV, a survey by the British Red Cross has found. One in five young Britons also said that they would not care for a member of their family suffering from the disease.
22 September 2003
UN states must 'dramatically scale up' HIV/Aids programmes
Two years after a special session of the UN General Assembly on HIV/Aids, many member states will not meet basic Aids prevention and care goals established at the 2001 meeting unless "efforts are dramatically scaled up", according to reports released today by the UN Secretary-General and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids).
UN states must 'dramatically scale up' HIV/Aids programmes
Two years after a special session of the UN General Assembly on HIV/Aids, many member states will not meet basic Aids prevention and care goals established at the 2001 meeting unless "efforts are dramatically scaled up", according to reports released today by the UN Secretary-General and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAids).
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