Lin Tao, an oral biologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has found a seemingly innocuous bacterium that may provide the key to fighting HIV infections. Two strains of lactobacillus, common microorganisms that break down the milk we drink, have been found to effectively target the sugary outer envelope of the HIV virus and block infections, at least in lab settings.
Tao's bacteria-based approach is notable for a few reasons. First, it is far cheaper than the billions of dollars spent on the unsuccessful development of an HIV vaccine. According to Tao, \the developmental cost for a vaccine is about $100 million to $1 billion, but [a bacterial treatment] may only cost a few million.""
In light of the prohibitive costs of current HIV drugs, this cost-effective bacterial alternative could be the answer for AIDS epidemics in developing areas such as South Africa. With probiotic food-food containing beneficial bacteria-HIV defense could be doled out quickly. A serving of lactobacillus-infused bread, for example, could be given to those infected in localized, high-risk areas, potentially capping further outbreak.
Another significant characteristic of these microscopic HIV fighters is that they are safe, easy to use and are widely found in human oral, intestinal and vaginal cavities. And, unlike with vaccines, Tao's method would provide ""broad spectrum protection"" against all the varieties of HIV, he said.
HIV-positive infants and women in particular would benefit from this approach. According to Reuters Health, ""breast-feeding is now the major route by which infants do become infected in Africa."" While anti-HIV drugs cannot be used in infected newborns, Tao's lactobacillus could protect infants against HIV viruses found in breast milk.
According to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the majority of HIV-infected people will soon be women. With a clinical lactobacillus treatment, the vaginal surface could be inoculated and women could be protected against sexual transmission.
However, as maintained by James Gern, UW-Madison professor of pediatrics, ""there is a long way to go ... before we know whether this laboratory observation would provide clinically meaningful protection from HIV."" Real-world data is absolutely necessary for this finding to gain more scientific credibility. Gern suggests adminstering a survey to determine whether ""the presence of this microbe in people is associated with protection from HIV in exposed populations.""
As with any high-level scientific research, Tao will need funding. Unfortunately, considering its application in the developing world and its cheap cost, Tao is not banking on a pharmaceutical company to finance a product that is unlikely to generate much profit.
James Sosman, associate medical director of UW-Madison's HIV Care program, called Tao's discovery an ""interesting observation"" but was hesitant to call it an outright breakthrough. Still, Sosman noted, ""Serendipity and odd observations are of value,"" and, with further research, can sometimes add up to a cure.
