Tests on apes infected with the SIV virus

SIV is a virus which attacks apes and works the same exact way that HIV works on humans. That’s why scientists are using apes to test various drugs or methods to prevent infections and then only apply them to humans. Both viruses have to enter into the body somehow, and so there can be battles on two fronts against the virus. One battle is when the virus enters and the other when the virus is already inside the body. Dr. Ashley Haase and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis concentrated on a certain group of cells, where SIV enters the body. These are epithelial cells on the cervix. The entry of the virus triggers the immune system and the cells that the SIV/HIV infects are the ones to come to assistance. That’s how scientists got the idea to repress the reaction of the immune system with a simple anti-inflammatory substance, a substance which prevents inflammation. From the five apes they tested this method on, four didn’t get infected with the SIV virus even after prolonged and severe exposure. In the control group, all apes became infected immediately.

Glycerol monolaurate (GML) – the hope of scientists

Scientists have been trying to destroy the virus as it enters the body for a long time. But they usually destroy the body as well, so there hasn’t been a suitable substance until now to protect the body from the entrance of the HIV virus. They gathered information from studies on female toxic shock and they found Glycerol monolaurate to be a useful compound. It’s also being extensively used on various products and is totally safe for humans. We find it in vegetable oil, food, deodorants, where it’s used as a germicide (it kills “germs”) and as a substance which enables the right balance in a mixture. A gel which contained this compound protected 4 lucky monkeys from a deadly virus. The research hasn’t gotten far because it’s not possible to test this on humans, so they have to discover the precise mechanism and apply it to humans.

Safety for women, but what about men?

If the research is successful and the medication at least 60 percent successful, they could help thousands of people fight an infection with the HIV virus. But this protection is only for women, the question of men is still up for debate. If the Glycerol monolaurate compound was used as a gel or lubricant, would it protect men as well? If we were looking at it logically, the answer would be no. This would mean that the medication is already limited. If the man keeps using condoms, the gel is completely unnecessary. Any progress which brings a greater chance of safe sexuality is definitely welcome, even though it’s limited only to the female population. The gel would be very inexpensive and is excellent from that point of view, but thoughts also arise if we wouldn’t be doing more by informing people about safe intercourse. Why protect people with preparations instead of teaching them to live responsibly? Let’s leave the question unanswered because the answer is at hand.