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Subject:
From:
Karen Querna <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 7 Jul 2008 07:51:54 -0700
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text/plain
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FYI
does anyone know more?
karen querna, rn, bsn, ibclc
spokane


Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a global epidemic 
threatening the lives of millions of people. Because there is no known 
cure, prevention of the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, the 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is critical for controlling the 
disease. The transmitting routes of HIV include breastfeeding, which 
passes the virus from mothers to infants. This is a major problem in 
many areas of Africa, where HIV-positive mothers have no alternative to 
breastfeeding. So far, no practical and effective methods are available 
to prevent HIV transmission by this route.

A team of researchers from Lavax (Palatine, Ill.) and the University of 
Illinois at Chicago, reporting today during the 86th General Session of 
the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), is developing 
a new technology that prevents the infection of HIV by breastfeeding. 
They have isolated a special strain of probiotic lactobacilli from the 
human mouth. It belongs to the same species as those found in dairy 
foods, such as yogurt and kefir. This strain captures the HIV virus by 
binding to its outer ‘envelope’. Because it grows and reproduces itself 
in milk, once an infant is inoculated with the Lactobacillus, the 
protection may last until the infant is weaned. This technology offers 
an easily administered alternative to HIV vaccines, which are currently 
unavailable. However, the hot climate and the lack of refrigeration in 
Africa pose a great challenge for the shelf life of lactobacilli. The 
aim of this study was to develop a lasting formula of lactobacilli for 
infants to be used as prevention against the transmission of HIV through 
breastfeeding.

Currently, the best bio-protecting agents for lactobacilli are sucrose 
and trehalose. These sugars preserve freeze-dried lactobacilli well at 
4°C and 20°C. However, at a warmer temperature (33°C), after 4 weeks of 
storage, all Lactobacillus cells protected with sucrose or trehalose 
die. By screening a variety of food ingredients for a better protective 
agent, the investigators have identified a new alternative. This new 
agent kept the HIV-capturing Lactobacillus strain viable for more than 
12 weeks at 33°C. Their analysis showed that, after 12 weeks, the 
Lactobacillus in the infant formula was as good as fresh Lactobacillus 
in capturing HIV and blocking the HIV infection of cultured mammalian cells.

In summary, scientists have developed a new preservation method that can 
maintain HIV-capturing lactobacilli in a hot climate without 
refrigeration. This method will facilitate the development of a safe and 
effective prophylactic formula to protect infants from HIV in mother’s milk.

—————————-

—————————-

This study was supported by an IADR/GlaxoSmithKline Innovation in Oral 
Care Award and by NIH grant #AI68528.

About the International Association for Dental Research

The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a non-profit 
organization with more than 10,800 individual members worldwide, 
dedicated to: (1) advancing research and increasing knowledge to improve 
oral health, (2) supporting the oral health research community, and (3) 
facilitating the communication and application of research findings for 
the improvement of oral health worldwide.

To learn more about the IADR, visit http://www.iadr.org/.

This is a summary of an abstract entitled “An Infant Formula Blocking 
HIV Transmission via Breastfeeding”, by R. Chang and L. Tao, of Lavax 
(Palatine, Ill.) and the University of Illinois at Chicago, presented at 
the International Association for Dental Research.

Source: Linda Hemphill
International & American Association for Dental Research

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