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  • (Image source: Digital Trends)

  • BY BRIANA ALTERGOTT

  • Good news in the fight against HIV. Scientists from Washington University School of Medicine

  • in St. Louis have discovered that bee venom kills the virus while leaving the body unharmed.

  • A team of researchers found nanoparticles infused with melittin, the toxin in bee venom,

  • destroys the protective envelope around the HIV virus while leaving the surrounding cells

  • intact. 
According the study, the nanoparticles

  • don’t harm healthy cells because of theprotective bumpersaround each particle.

  • According to researchers in the study:

“When the nanoparticles come into contact with normal

  • cellsthe particles simply bounce off. HIVis even smaller than the nanoparticle,

  • so HIV fits between the bumpers and makes contact with the surface of the nanoparticle,

  • where the bee toxin awaits.” (Via Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Bee venom not only kills the HIV virus, but can also help prevent against contracting

  • it in the first place. 
The researchers hope to use this new technique

  • to develop anti-HIV vaginal gel and other treatments to prevent the initial infection.

  • In the future, this topical gel could be mixed with spermicide to work as a double

  • whammy against both HIV and pregnancy. 
Unlike other methods used to prevent HIV

  • from reproducing, the bee venom technique works to break down the virusstructure

  • and wipe it out. Experts believe the idea behind this technique might also knock out

  • other diseases such as hepatitis B and C. 
This discovery is yet another success story

  • in the medical world this week. A baby girl born with HIV in rural Mississippi was pronounced

  • cured by doctors on March 3 after months of HIV treatment.

(Image source: Digital Trends)

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