American researchers have managed to use a toxin naturally present in bee venom to destroy HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS.
If we already attributed many virtues to bee venom, it is an unexpected discovery made by researchers at the School of Medicine at Washington University in the United States. It may also destroy HIV without affecting healthy cells. As they explain in their study, it is more precisely a toxin present in the venom of these young ladies and called "melittin" which would have such power.
Concretely, the toxin would actually be able to pierce holes in the protective envelope that surrounds HIV, but also other viruses. A property already known but which had not been used only against certain microorganisms. However, according to Dr. Samuel Wickline who edited the work published in the journal Antiviral Therapy, large amounts of freely circulating melittin can cause significant damage in the body. This is why the researchers used a very specific technique during their experiments: they used nanoparticles infused with melittin.
Destroy HIV without touching cells
These nanoparticles are smaller than normal cells but larger than HIV, which is particularly small. Besides, in addition to melittin, scientists have also added small additional protections to the surface of nanoparticles to prevent them from attacking normal cells. Thus, when the nanoparticles come into contact with healthy cells, the latter only bounce on them and their member remains completely intact.
On the other hand, HIV, which is much smaller, is able to slip between the protections and come into contact with the surface of the nanoparticle, where the bee venom toxin awaits it. Thus, "the melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral envelope. The melittin forms porous spikes which rupture the envelope, removing it from the virus," said Joshua L. Hood, lead author of the study quoted in a press release. of the University.
The main benefit of this approach is to tackle "an inherent physical property of HIV," an important part of its structure, adds Hood. "Theoretically, the virus is incapable of adapting to it. The virus must have a protective envelope, a double layer that covers the virus." Destroying this layer therefore leads irreparably to its death.
A vaginal gel to prevent contamination
Scientists say this discovery represents an important breakthrough in the potential development of a vaginal gel that could help prevent HIV contamination. "We hope that in places where HIV is widespread, people can use this gel as a preventive measure to stop the initial infection", adds the scientist. But this work could also lead to the development of a treatment for patients already infected, in particular those who show resistance to other therapies.
For this, the nanoparticles could be injected intravenously and could, in theory, be able to remove HIV from the bloodstream. “The basic particles that we use were developed several years ago as an artificial blood product. It didn't work very well to deliver oxygen, but they circulated safely through the body and have gave a good platform to adapt to fight different types of infections, ”comments Hood.
Without destroying it completely, this technique could at least provide protection, as the scientist points out. "We are also studying it for couples where only one partner has HIV and who want to have a baby. These particles themselves are very safe for sperm for the same reason that they are for vaginal cells. ". Scientists therefore intend to continue their work, which could also be useful against other types of virus such as hepatitis.
Another good reason to save the bees!
