Depending on the topic at hand, our writings frequently reflect our personal feelings, opinions and experience to varying degrees. But that does not necessarily make all our stories "personal." In my inaugural post I had promised readers that Accidental Blogger would serve mostly as a conversational tool between its author [there was only one author at the time] and readers. The personal anxieties, complaints and triumphs of AB bloggers are not meant for the most part, to become the central point of the conversations. To that end, I think the A.B. authors have done a commendable job of keeping this blog impersonal yet engaging for our readers. However, I also decided at the very outset that newsworthy stories involving our authors, their friends or family which might also be of interest to our readers will occasionally be featured here. ("Interesting news of a personal nature can be shared by readers and the author", I wrote.) As far as I can remember there have been just a few stories on our blog which may qualify as such and each contained a broader general interest angle. Amidst the long list of my own posts, I can think of just a few - the announcement of Anna and Andrew's wedding, my daughter's unhappy encounter with the LAPD and fellow blogger Matt's kind sharing of the experience of living with Asperger's Syndrome (via his blog).
Now I am bringing another story to the attention of our readers which perhaps qualifies as "personal" but is in fact a public interest report. It has already appeared in several media outlets in the US and abroad and it involves my husband, Sudhir Paul's scientific research. [The full report in Science Daily:]
ScienceDaily (July 16, 2008) — Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) researchers at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston believe they have uncovered the Achilles heel in the armor of the virus that continues to kill millions.
The weak spot is hidden in the HIV envelope protein gp120. This protein is essential for HIV attachment to host cells, which initiate infection and eventually lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS. Normally the body’s immune defenses can ward off viruses by making proteins called antibodies that bind the virus. However, HIV is a constantly changing and mutating virus, and the antibodies produced after infection do not control disease progression to AIDS. For the same reason, no HIV preventative vaccine that stimulates production of protective antibodies is available.
The Achilles heel, a tiny stretch of amino acids numbered 421-433 on gp120, is now under study as a target for therapeutic intervention. Sudhir Paul, Ph.D., pathology professor in the UT Medical School, said, “Unlike the changeable regions of its envelope, HIV needs at least one region that must remain constant to attach to cells. If this region changes, HIV cannot infect cells. Equally important, HIV does not want this constant region to provoke the body’s defense system. So, HIV uses the same constant cellular attachment site to silence B lymphocytes - the antibody producing cells. The result is that the body is fooled into making abundant antibodies to the changeable regions of HIV but not to its cellular attachment site. Immunologists call such regions superantigens. HIV’s cleverness is unmatched. No other virus uses this trick to evade the body’s defenses.”
A good summary, although my husband is an immunologist and not a pathologist. The press release above from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center conservatively characterizes the results as a "theory." But in fact it is the conclusion reached at via lengthy experimental research, now many years in the making and it is currently in a fairly advanced stage of progress. The success in neutralizing the HIV virus by this particular approach has been confirmed in other laboratories outside the University of Texas. We have to wait and see what happens next. One can be cautiously optimistic that the favorable publicity will facilitate the work to move into the next step involving animal and human testing to determine the efficacy of the antibodies in a vaccine and palliative drug formulations. In most immunotherapeutic approach to cure and disease control, there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. Let us hope that the promise that has been seen in the test tube will successfully translate to the human body's own immune system.
My husband and his research collaborators are very excited at the prospect of a vaccine against HIV, as are those who are affected by the ravages of AIDs either directly as patients or indirectly as caregivers. The implications of the findings are therefore of interest in countries where the spread of AIDS is a public health concern, the financial world which takes note of medical innovations and the gay community where AIDS awareness and anti- HIV drug development are of acute concern.
On on-line science forums, the response to the report has been very positive. A few readers have complained that in the press release, the UT researchers have "anthropomorphized" the virus with statements like "HIV's cleverness is unmatched." I asked Sudhir about it. He said that it is hard to explain to non-scientists or even to non-immunologists the mechanisms of an Abzyme mediated vaccine unless they tell a simple, somewhat anthropomorphized story. And in any case, he said, he probably couldn't have mustered the doggedness to keep working on this difficult project for such a lengthy period of time unless at some level he hadn't begun to look at the problem as a "Man vs the wily virus" challenge.
Congratulations to Dr. Paul and his team of researchers! Have they already tested the abzyme based approach against HIV in animal trials or is it straight to human clinical trials at this point?
Posted by: Sujatha | July 21, 2008 at 02:42 PM
No testing has been done in animals larger than mice so far. The federal govt. does not permit human testing of HIV vaccine without the intermediate step of testing on primates. So I guess the next step would be "monkey trials."
Posted by: Ruchira | July 21, 2008 at 06:38 PM
Very exciting, very impressive. It must be fascinating, Ruchira, being able to view a process as important as this from such a unique perspective. You've got the front row seats, basically.
Could your family be more impressive?! Such a talented, lovely group. Personally, I think you should adopt me. No home is complete without a confused, introverted 32 year old. Think about it! I'll make lunch, do some light housekeeping. That one jar in the fridge that's always so hard to open? I would be around to open it.
Mutually beneficial.
Again, Congratulations to Dr. Paul.
Posted by: M | July 22, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Matt:
Thank you for your kind words. But be assured that things in real life are not always as "impressive" as they look in a blog post :-) I will pass on your "congrats" to my husband.
I was a bit hesitant about writing this post - it can come across as bragging and basking in the light of someone else's hard work. But you are right about the front row seat (my husband and I met when we were in our late teens) and the news has been already widely reported. So I wasn't exactly "scooping" anything here.
That I occasionally get my back up (as you may have noticed in the comments section of some of the science vs religion posts) with the common anti-science / scientist misconceptions is surely partly driven by the fact that I have been married to a scientist for more than three decades and am familiar with what it takes to be a dedicated scientist. But that's not the only reason. Apart from the "cat and mouse" challenges of the basic work in the lab, I have also seen first hand the compassion, ethical considerations and the imagination that goes into serious scientific endeavors. The science community has in place a system of peer review and checks and balances like few other public institutions do. Sure, there are egotists and a-- holes in every field. Science and technology, just as the humanities, the arts and politics have their fair share of hot air balloons. But arrogance is by no means the sole prerogative of scientists. So when I hear loose talk about cold blooded, insular and robotic scientists running around ego-maniacally for mere academic and personal gratification, it does bother me.
As for adopting you, you are on. Can you live with a middle aged woman who talks a lot - even to her cat? I do often badly need help with opening that jar in the fridge.
Posted by: Ruchira | July 22, 2008 at 11:18 AM
You spelled "AIDS" wrong: "...the ravages of AIDs either directly..." :)
Also, I haven't seen this in the news, but I'm from outside the US. It should be the first item in Google searches for "AIDS", "AIDS cure", "Houston AIDS" or similar. I just happened to StumbleUpon it. If this is such a big thing, why doesn't the whole world know about it already? I also cannot believe that it's that hard to do human testing, when there are millions of people who have AIDS. Maybe this is just a hoax to get "funds". If you people were serious, you'd be in touch with the law by now and making steps toward human testing, if this is indeed the next step. Otherwise, I think you just want to make money out of this.
I hope my post wasn't too harsh. It's probably just the cultural/financial difference between the US and my country that makes me think this way, and I hope this is not a hoax.
Posted by: Me | July 31, 2008 at 01:32 AM
Dear Ruchira,
I am so pleased to meet you. I first read about your husband's discovery in August this year. Since then, i became practically obsessed about finding out more about this. this will be my dream come true. i thought the next step was human testing? Why not conduct these trials outside the US where laws are more human? i just wanted to let you know that i dream of being the first one to participate to this trial. i have read a lot about HIV potential cures but when I read about this one, i felt something inside me and believed that this was what we have been waiting for so long. I know he has the cure, but i can't wait 5 years. please keep me posted.
Posted by: K. | September 20, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Dear Ruchira,
First of all, i want to say that your husband , Mr. Sudhir Paul, gave me so much hope to move ahead with life. I have recently been diagnosed with hiv and it is so much of a pain. The pain is more of a mantal one, and spme days i feel like let me just end it all. Let me just end my misery.When i talked to your Husband, listening to him really gave me a desire to keep on living, my tought of killing myself have subside ever since i talked to him. Altough they come back, but i keep on telling to myself that Sudhir would not let me down. I watch his Interview with the huston local, every time i have the chance to. He is my hero. I also heard that some company is the UK has decide to finance his work; and i also read in the JamaicanGleamer that we may have the cure in the next 5 years or so. So i am more hopeful than ever. I would love to be part of his human trial. I would love to think him so much so so so much for answering my call when i most needed it.
Please Tell him please tell him we are all looking up to him and his team and me personaly i am looking up to him has the person who saved me from commiting suicide.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Deep appreciation,
KLM1987
[email protected]
Posted by: Paul Rosb | November 11, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Paul,
I am really glad that the conversation you had with my husband gave you hope. I too hope that the research will progress in a timely fashion and fulfill the promise of a therapy.
I do not know anything about any UK company's plan of funding the research. I do know that some organization in the UK was involved in fundraising on the Internet with the UT HIV research as a front. Neither my husband nor the University of Texas has been contacted by this company and no one really knows anything about it. The Jamaica Gleaner report had many inaccuracies - my husband is very unhappy with that. The journalist reported as "fact" things that were not said or implied. The You Tube video that you have watched of the interview with the Houston television station is more accurate and factual.
I will forward you message to my husband. There are many like you who have been in touch with him. All of us hope that his research team can help with an effective therapy of HIV infected persons. I wish you all the best.
Posted by: Ruchira | November 11, 2008 at 10:16 PM
This research brings a news of hope to all HIV sufferers from all over who have been waiting for ages now to get a cure.
Posted by: Tessa | November 12, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Dear Ruchira,
I have to say that i am very happy to read your reply. My hopes for a cure are growing day after day after day; and i have dreamed night after night to removed that virus out of my blood stream. It is hard to understand that the US government is willing to spend billions in a war, instead of using that amount of money to help scientist find solution to that devastating virus.
I mostly trusted that interview i saw on youtube and the one with the girl where he is talking about the abzyme, cause the jamaican gleamer tend to just say things that would attract readers to their website. But when your husband said : " I am very optimistic and i would say that 5 to 10 years from now we will have a vaccine for it." when i heard him say that i completely beleived in him and said no need to end it now. If sudhir is willing to
work on getting a cure i am willing to keep on living. I am 21 years old and it feels like i am not going to live long enough to make my dreams happened. But my hopes are high, cause your husband gave me lots of hope.
How soon may the human trial start?
Deep appreciation,
Paul Rosb
Posted by: paul rosb | November 12, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I read the article over and over again and it really sounds promessing. Cause if you do know the weak spot or point of anything or anyone, you can bring them down. If u know the weakness of an army you know exactly where to attack so i am hopeful. although the human body is quie complex. But i hope really hope that this time is the time to stop HIV once and for all. Everyone deserves a second chance to live.
Sudhir I am begging you to keep on working, you are my the hero who helped me keep on living
Posted by: paul rosb | November 12, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Dear Ruchira,
I read about your husbands work just by accident serving on the topic of hiv.
I was stunned and surprised. It sounds like the first time a ´cure´ has been announced that really spells hope. But on the other side I am worried that this possible cure will not make it because of lack of money and funding. It is so hard to find anything about this new developement, even if you know the name abzyme you have to really search. I don´t get this. I don´t understand why on the one side quite hopeless new potential medicines that have all sorts of onwanted by-effects are sponsored beyond what is needed and ´simple´ cures on the other side are so underexposed to publicity. Somehow I feel that its more interesting to the moneymakers to produce products that you have to keep on buying instead of producing a cure that you eventually don´t need after a while.
So scared that this new hope will be whiped out and its funding will drie out, because it posts a thread to the billion dollar industries making big bugs on selling medication to patient that can´t get off them.
Why does the Bill Gates foundation not fund this program...he seems to be founding every other hopeless aids ´cure´?
Kind regards,
Bert
Posted by: Bert | November 25, 2008 at 08:34 AM
OK folks...the video has been taken off youtube (see: http://www.youtube.com/browse?&ytsession=5hyvdoi_gCqCQn2c1EGM-zntUhsg-o2wCXxgNJPmWaHkePP0OaotBu6fF5RVwJDPmWp4Bo3sfjs3LPGYjLMi36mHC6dkZjuFxseUtyy40ZgVXJKMxChaBQn5WIupobUx-BuUrZNMUhe1irEbkfuHHi3SShNk_P9rhlPQRPcf8x-ORqfTGxCAemxCvVgSquAKLg0aCPaECV_Z1IlQwukx8VS4IlgPRAvD1WMGXm_YdwllY6oDSch2hKcWgo9639mG1f7709YZRSGLvRP-FZ0KJGR-BGuF4UEy5NYsd671EEA1xodvL4FEGdsxzKVSf8RZ)
What on earth is going on. Was this story a hoax, or are the powers that be against a new wonder drug against hiv?
Dear regards,
Bert
Posted by: Bert | December 11, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Hey Bert i have talked to the assit. of Dr. Sudhir paul and really it sounds pretty real to me. Youtube takes off anything or any kind of vid they have removed many of my videos so i would not be so quick to say that the story is a hoax. And on top of it, you have the wife of the Dr. to confirm what is going.
I talked to them as often as possible and honestly i don't think the University of Texas would put their name at risk by puting out a story that is BS. cause it would affect their reputation major, big, whole big time, if u see what i mean. Cause they are a very good school.
So let's be hopeful let's give them the support they need. Make more research about it call the UT school be a journalist lol, this is what i did.
Best regards,
Paul.
Posted by: paul | December 16, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Well this is a nice Blog on most important facts. I am happy to read this. But I am looking more and more info. Please add some thing more. I shall link from my blogs to this blog to day itself.
Last week I have found a nice informative guide on HIV from following URL http://www.hiv-info.org/health-news.php
This site says - HIV should Cure Through herbal medicines and Holistic Treatment, It’s a latest treatment it can kill HIV virus. This site gives you all the information about HIV. Guide claims that HIV viruses can't be killed but they can be ousted out of the body cells using bio magnetic repulsion or something written. I dreamt of a HIV free world after reading this guide.
Hope to read more from you people soon.
Wish you all a nice and fantastic Day for you
Posted by: Madhu | December 22, 2008 at 04:38 AM
That is absolutely great work. I hope it ends up as a cure. Keep us updated!
Posted by: Houston Labor Lawyer | February 23, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Any news about the development of the vaccine?
Posted by: rodraf | March 18, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Here is a link to an update article by Dr. Sudhir Paul:
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/pathology/research/circ/hivtherapyandvaccination.htm
Posted by: Christoff | July 20, 2009 at 04:16 PM