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.
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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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