The good news?
Scientists have identified good bacteria already living in some humans that target and trap HIV and may protect against infection. They reported their findings at the 2005 American Society for Microbiology Beneficial Microbes Conference, at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
"I believe every life form has its natural enemy, and HIV should not be the exception," says Dr. Lin Tao, Associate Professor of the Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago. "If we can find its natural enemy, we can control the spread of HIV naturally and cost-effectively, just as we use cats to control mice."
The bad news? After the flip.
The bad news:
"The major roadblock in the development of this technology is the lack of financial support. Drug companies and venture capitalists are not interested because the beneficiary populations are infants and women in poor countries," says Tao. He is currently seeking sponsorship from charities or philanthropists to develop this technology.
Go read the whole thing at http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/04/042205hiv.htm.
Basically a bacteria that exists in human mouths targets a sugar that coats HIV. Two strains of lactobacilli were actually able to trap the HIV virus and prevent infection.
The bacteria could be spread on mucous menbranes to prevent infection.
However, those who would benefit most are poor people, and it would end the profitable HIV-drug business. So there is no funding.
Any philanthropists interested?
Thanks to rorschach for finding this.
Fair use.