A miracle cure for AIDS would have given good results in the laboratory. Its secret: the venom ofBee !
An efficient combination of molecules
Bee venom contains a potent toxin called melittin. This has the ability to perforate the protective envelope of the AIDS virus and thus destroy it. To prevent melittin from damaging healthy cells, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis came up with the idea of combining it with nanoparticles equipped with “protective bumpers”. Normal cells in contact with these nanoparticles bounce off them as the smaller AIDS virus passes through the bumpers and comes into contact with the toxin.
“We are attacking a property inherent in HIV,” says Dr. Hood, lead author of the study. “Theoretically, there is no way for the virus to adapt to this. The virus needs a protective coating, a double-layered membrane that covers it. “
Potential efficacy also against hepatitis
The researchers plan to adapt this treatment in the form of vaginal gel in order to prevent contamination in particularly affected countries. This gel would also be useful to allow couples where one of the partners is sick to be able to have a healthy baby. Indeed, “these particles do not present any danger for sperm“says Dr Joshua L. Hood.
He also thinks that it would be possible to inject this drug intravenously to treat the sick and in theory to erase all traces of the virus in the patient’s blood. Another type of use possible: fight against hepatitis B and C. Indeed melittin indiscriminately attacks the double membrane layers also typical of hepatitis viruses.
The researchers believe that nanoparticles can be easily manufactured in sufficient quantity to be able to conduct future clinical trials.
