Currently viewing the category: "drug resistant HIV"

Savage Practices Risk Public Health & Safety

By On · Add Comment · In bushmeat, Centers of Disease Control, drug resistant HIV, Ebola, EcoHealth Alliance exotic pets, primates, Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), zoonosis

In the news of the nauseating this weekend, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) reports that illegally imported bushmeat confiscated at five major U.S. airports contained potentially dangerous bacteria. Items confiscated as part of the study included raw to semi-cooked animal parts, including those of primates like baboons and chimpanzees as well as various rodent species. The bushmeat was imported from Africa.

Among the pathogens identified in the products were a zoonotic retrovirus, simian foamy viruses, and several nonhuman primate herpesviruses. This presents a risk to humans as pathogens can spread from wild animals to people. In fact, some believe that HIV may have originally been transferred from apes to humans, and that a second AIDS-like epidemic is possible through this type of transmission, called zoonosis.

It’s not just bushmeat that poses a threat, but also wild animals imported as pets. A study conducted by EcoHealth Alliance showed that over a six-year period that began in 2000 approximately 1.5 billion live wild animals were legally imported into the country with 90% slated for the pet trade. I mean, who wasn’t shocked by the news of this loser releasing 56 exotic animals he was holding in captivity on his property in Ohio. Said Ian Lipkin, a researcher from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health,

“Exotic wildlife pets and bushmeat are Trojan horses that threaten humankind at sites where they are collected in the developing world as well as the US. Our study underscores the importance of surveillance at ports, but we must also encourage efforts to reduce demand for products that drive the wildlife trade.”

The United States is one of the largest consumers of imported wildlife products and wildlife.

Some of the pathogens that can be contracted by humans zoonotically are:

  • Ebola virus–found in chimps, gorillas and bonobos, and spread to humans by handling and consuming the meat of such great apes
  • Monkeypox virus–found in the bushmeat of African squirrels from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus which causes AIDS, originated from a similar virus in primates called Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV); researchers believe that HIV probably initially jumped into humans after people in Africa came into contact with infected bush meat. There are several distinct strains of HIV, indicating that this cross-species transfer has occurred several times.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has also reported that more than 55 million pounds (25 million kilograms) of wildlife products enter the country each year, with New York City being the most common port of entry followed by Miami, and Los Angeles.

All I can say is…c’mon people! What’s with the desire to own exotic animals as pets? This is such a cruel and idiotic practice, I don’t even know where to begin. I mean, the Florida everglades being invaded by Burmese pythons released by pet owners–duh! I’m sorry but I just don’t sympathize with people that get their faces bitten off by pet chimps. Not only is the practice of owning exotic animals and importing bushmeat a danger to the individual, but it puts us all at risk. Both these practices need to be outlawed and severely punished. Offenders of this nature are savages in my book. Try evolving, dammit.

Gamers Solve Protein Structure Puzzle

By On · Add Comment · In amino acids, computer, drug resistant HIV, enzymes, Foldit, gaming, molecular biology, protein structure, retrovirus

Here goes an exciting story, a symbiosis of human mind and computer, to solve a decade-long problem in the molecular structure of a key enzyme in an AIDS-like virus.  The feat was carried out by gamers playing an online game called Foldit, where groups compete to unfold chains of amino acids–the building blocks of proteins–using a set of online tools.  It is believed that this is the first time gamers have resolved a long-standing scientific problem.

Online gamers cracked the structural code of a retroviral monomeric protease enzyme, a cutting agent in the complex molecular tailoring of retroviruses, a family that includes HIV.  The game is a 3-D picture that “unfolds” the molecule and rotates it in order to reveal potential targets for drugs.  Looking at proteins through a microscope provides only a flat image of what looks like (to the untrained eye) a plate of one-dimensional scrunched-up spaghetti.

Understanding protein structure is important in understanding enzymatic function, substrate and environment to lead to strategies for combating viruses and other microorganisms.   Pharmacologists use structural information to devise drugs.

Foldit was developed in 2008 by the University of Washington.  “We wanted to see if human intuition could succeed where automated methods had failed,” Firas Khatib of the university’s biochemistry lab said in a press release.

“The ingenuity of game players is a formidable force that, if properly directed, can be used to solve a wide range of scientific problems.”
One of Foldit’s creators, Seth Cooper, explained why gamers had succeeded where computers had failed.
“People have spatial reasoning skills, something computers are not yet good at.  Games provide a framework for bringing together the strengths of computers and humans,” he said.
I love this latest breakthrough, not just because I am a molecular biologist by training, but because I am certain that man and computer will continue to evolve together in greater hybridization to the benefit of both in the near future.  This is simply one example of what will be accomplished from that symbiosis.  Bravo to online gamers!  And this should be food for thought to those that think video gaming is useless.  As I’ve contended repeatedly in this blog, all human interests have value, and we never know how our underappreciated skills will serve humanity in the future.

Nowegian Superbug Solution

By On · Add Comment · In antibiotics, artesunate, drug resistant HIV, drug-resistant malaria, extremely drug-resistant (XXDR) TB, Norway, superbugs

Last post I discussed a new and deadly form of superbug: extremely drug-resistant (XXDR) TB. Two more drug-resistant microorganisms that will likely become a health threat in upcoming years have also surfaced–they are drug-resistant malaria and drug-resistant HIV.

Like XXDR TB, these two new superbugs are a result of over- and misused drug responses. In the case of DR-malaria, the drug in question is artesunate–a derivative of artemisinin, the world’s last weapon against malaria. On the Thai-Cambodian border, DR-malaria is popping up, experts believe, as a result of over-the-counter purchases and self-administering of artesunate.

Although artesunate has some use in fighting malaria, it is not meant to be a stand -alone drug. This weakened drug response makes it easy for the malaria bug to withstand and develop resistance. Artesunate has been banned in Cambodia; despite this, it continues to be sold to locals in small, unlicensed shops for self-treatment of malaria.

DR-HIV is starting an upsurge in South Africa. Because of short drug supplies, many people do not take the full course of antiretroviral treatment, and drug-resistance results. For the unfortunates that fail on one antiretroviral regimen, other drugs can be tried; but for each successive one the risk of mass drug-resistance increases–not a good prospect in the fight on HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, where 2/3 of the world’s 33 million HIV cases exist.

As I pointed out in my last post, the evolution of drug-resistant microorganisms is a truly frightening notion on the surface. But all is not futile. I talked about maintaining one’s own health as the best possible defense against microorganisms–superbugs or not. This includes adopting all health-enhancing behaviors, as well as abandoning those health-depleting behaviors we have become all to accustomed to. One in particular is proving to be an incredible long-term solution to slowing down the growth of drug-resistant microorganisms, and it is being practiced with great success in Norway.

The Norwegian public health system has adopted a program to combat drug-resistant bugs, and it’s basis is to cut back on the use of antibiotics. Bravo Norway! They have recognized there that the majority of antibiotics are prescribed for benign symptoms, like minor coughs or fevers.

“We don’t throw antibiotics at every person with a fever. We tell them to hang on, wait and see, and we give them a Tylenol to feel better,” says one Norwegian doctor. “Penicillin is not a cough medicine,” says one marketing message on a package of Norwegian tissue paper. Hallelujah!

I’m pleased to see a country making a mass effort to contain a menacing global problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) says antibiotic resistance is one of the leading public health threats on the planet. I couldn’t agree more–time to take proactive measures. And Norway is doing just that. We could do the same here in the U.S. but it will take a concerted effort by physicians; something I think will be much harder to count on. Only time will tell which direction it all goes. But with the looming dangers of DR-TB, DR-malaria and DR-HIV we better start doing something. As I keep preaching, all we can do is take the best care of ourselves possible by practicing health-enhancing behaviors. It will be the strong that survive if a superbug onslaught is allowed to fester.

Health and Evolution

By On · Add Comment · In drug resistant HIV, evolution, Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA), multi-drug resistant TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, tuberculosis (TB)

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know how I feel about getting sick–it’s absolutely essential. Protecting yourself against all illness is not only impossible, it’s dangerous. We need to get sick from time to time because encountering microorganisms upgrades our immune system in the same way updating your computer’s virus scan does: it protects you from future illnesses that might be strong enough to kill you. We evolve along with microorganism–and they with us. There’s no such thing as solitary evolution.

Case in point: Scientist have recently discovered the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis (TB) in 9,000 year old human bones submerged in waters off of Israel’s coast. It was previously thought that Mycobacterium tuberculosis was younger by about 3,000 years, but these findings show the incredible co-evolution of TB and man.

What I find interesting is that in our attempt to eradicate certain microorganisms, and thus certain diseases, we may actually be making said microorganisms stronger, tipping the balance in their favor for awhile. The widespread use of antibiotics and other drugs has led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains that are sturdier and tougher to treat. Take multi-drug resistant TB, or methicillin-resistant Staph aureus (MRSA), or now drug resistant HIV. We’ve created these superbug monsters, and are we more advantaged as a result?

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t take antibiotics, or HIV infected people shouldn’t take their drugs, but taking antibiotics for every sniffle or sore throat is absurd. Please let me inform you that sniffles and sore throats ARE good health! They are our bodies ways of fighting infection.

I bring this up because we are entering “flu season” and millions of people will be running for their flu shots, and millions more to their doctor for antibiotics because, “I’ve been congested for three days.” Just understand that on the one hand you are living an illusion to think that if you get a shot, you’ll avoid getting sick. You’ll get sick again, one day. And that you are actually getting protection from the flu (read last post)…you’re not. On the other hand, by running to the doctor for antibiotics to fight your viral infection, you are just adding to the probability of even stronger superbugs in the future.

Bugs evolve. Man evolves. We typically evolve together. Sometime man has the advantage, and sometimes microorganisms have the advantage. If I’m going to be the master of my health, I’ll take my chances and meet these little buggers head-on. Better believe that if I encounter something super-virulent, I’ll take the drugs. But not for the sniffles, I won’t. For that I’ll tough it out.

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