New drug could cure nearly any viral infection

[SandraJane]

MIT news

New drug could cure nearly any viral infection

Researchers at MIT's Lincoln Lab have developed technology that may someday cure the common cold, influenza and other ailments.
Anne Trafton, MIT News Office|August 10, 2011

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/antiviral-0810.html

Most bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin, discovered decades ago. However, such drugs are useless against viral infections, including influenza, the common cold, and deadly hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola.

Now, in a development that could transform how viral infections are treated, a team of researchers at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory has designed a drug that can identify cells that have been infected by any type of virus, then kill those cells to terminate the infection.

Note- Although this article has nothing outright to do with Transgender Issues, the promise of the Ultimate Anti Viral medication has implications across humankind. JessicaH showed me this article, my thanks Jessica. SJ

[Miniar]

.... O.O
This could cure HIV...
I'm stunned, and trying not to get my hopes up for this to actually be as awesome as it seems to be...

If it is however... it's amazing...

[cynthialee]

Like other very powerful medical technologies that could cure AIDS this will be declared to be 'disruptive technology' and will be mothballed.

[spacial]

With respect, over the years I've heard so many claims of what some researchers in (generally), some US university have claimed they are working on which will produce X result in a 'few years', I'll treat this with a pinch of salt.

It's a bit like me saying I will win the lottery in a few years and everyone will be rich. In the mean time, can you fund my secret system?

In all seriousness, why would they release this news now?

Now if they had claimed they were going to cure thirst, (disolve one pill in a glass of water), then I might take some notice.

[SandraJane]

So true, look where Cancer research is after all these years. Does make one wonder...

[Lukas-H]

As like Spacial said I am taking this with a grain of salt but it still sounds like some very promising news.

....It's difficult to hold back making a zombie joke now

[JessicaH]

This is coming from MIT and not some lab that that no one has ever heard of. It has been tested on over 10 previously uncurable viruses and quickly defeated them.  It uses a different method of attacking the virus which is also hard for the virus to adapt to in any way.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0022572

"We have created DRACOs and shown that they are nontoxic in 11 mammalian cell types and effective against 15 different viruses, including dengue flavivirus, Amapari and Tacaribe arenaviruses, Guama bunyavirus, and H1N1 influenza. We have also demonstrated that DRACOs can rescue mice challenged with H1N1 influenza. DRACOs have the potential to be effective therapeutics or prophylactics for numerous clinical and priority viruses, due to the broad-spectrum sensitivity of the dsRNA detection domain, the potent activity of the apoptosis induction domain, and the novel direct linkage between the two which viruses have never encountered."

[Pinkfluff]

Like other very powerful medical technologies that could cure AIDS this will be declared to be 'disruptive technology' and will be mothballed.

Either that or it will be so expensive that only the filthy rich can have it.

[justmeinoz]

If every cell in the body, or any specific organ,  is infected you could  be in trouble though.

Karen.

[Annah]

As like Spacial said I am taking this with a grain of salt but it still sounds like some very promising news.

....It's difficult to hold back making a zombie joke now

OMG you took the words right out of my mouth!!! I was going to say, "Well, here comes to zombie apocalypse!"