2008 Woodie Awards
Measles virus slows progression of HIV infection
Issue date: 4/3/08
HIV/AIDS is one of the most pressing public health concerns today. Hopkins researchers have made a potentially important and surprising advance in the treatment of the disease. They found that the virus that causes measles could reduce the effects of HIV.
The group, led by William Moss from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, studied the effects of the measles virus on HIV-infected cells. Measles, a viral disease like AIDS, used to be a major problem until the late 20th century when a vaccine was discovered.
Measles is now almost eradicated in the developed world, but continues to be a major cause of death in underdeveloped areas.
Moss's group found that the measles virus blocks the proliferation or production of white blood cells, which host the HIV virus in the bloodstream.
When HIV enters the body, it finds shelter in CD+4 cells, a specific type of white blood cells, in the lymph tissue. Lymph is responsible for keeping the body clean and defending it against pathogens. HIV/AIDS is deadly because it kills white blood cells, leaving the body vulnerable to infection.
Without the antibodies produced by the body to counter the invasion, a small infection can get out of hand and kill the host.
The measles virus also infects lymph tissue once it enters the body. The virus kills cells by fusing multiple cells together.
Measles causes rashes, severe cold-like symptoms and sometimes diarrhea. If no other complications arise, the disease will run a two-week course, by which time the body will have caught up and treated itself.
In this study, it was found that a cell once infected by the measles virus will have a sort of immunity to the HIV: The virus can enter the cell, but its multiplication is blocked.
Three types of cells were studied: CD+4 cells infected with measles virus only, cells infected with HIV only and cells co-infected with both viruses. The cell cultures were prepared for two different analyses that measured protein levels and the production of RNA, the genetic material used by the HIV virus.
The group, led by William Moss from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, studied the effects of the measles virus on HIV-infected cells. Measles, a viral disease like AIDS, used to be a major problem until the late 20th century when a vaccine was discovered.
Measles is now almost eradicated in the developed world, but continues to be a major cause of death in underdeveloped areas.
Moss's group found that the measles virus blocks the proliferation or production of white blood cells, which host the HIV virus in the bloodstream.
When HIV enters the body, it finds shelter in CD+4 cells, a specific type of white blood cells, in the lymph tissue. Lymph is responsible for keeping the body clean and defending it against pathogens. HIV/AIDS is deadly because it kills white blood cells, leaving the body vulnerable to infection.
Without the antibodies produced by the body to counter the invasion, a small infection can get out of hand and kill the host.
The measles virus also infects lymph tissue once it enters the body. The virus kills cells by fusing multiple cells together.
Measles causes rashes, severe cold-like symptoms and sometimes diarrhea. If no other complications arise, the disease will run a two-week course, by which time the body will have caught up and treated itself.
In this study, it was found that a cell once infected by the measles virus will have a sort of immunity to the HIV: The virus can enter the cell, but its multiplication is blocked.
Three types of cells were studied: CD+4 cells infected with measles virus only, cells infected with HIV only and cells co-infected with both viruses. The cell cultures were prepared for two different analyses that measured protein levels and the production of RNA, the genetic material used by the HIV virus.
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