Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have uncovered something quite remarkable. Nanoparticles carrying a toxin found in bee venom destroy HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Not only can it destroy HIV, but it leaves all surrounding cells unharmed. Watch the video below for more on this amazing discovery.
My Notes:
Bee venom is turning out to be one of the hottest new substances for research in the world of natural health and healing. Even those in the profession who usually steer clear of “natural” treatments are sitting up and taking note. Here are just some of the health claims that bee venom helps with, or has the potential to help with:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Arthritis
- Pain relief
- Multiple sclerosis
- Shingles
- Burns
- Tendinitis
- Infections
The latest research on how bee venom kills HIV is particularly exciting. It's an important step toward developing an effective vaginal gel. If it works, this has the potential to prevent, or vastly reduce the spread of HIV; the virus that can cause AIDS.
Joshua L. Hood, MD, PhD, a research instructor in medicine, had this to say on the findings:
“Our hope is that in places where HIV is running rampant, people can use this gel as a preventive measure to stop the initial infection.”
How it Works
Bee venom contains within it a potent toxin. This toxin is something called melittin, and it can poke holes in the protective layer that surrounds HIV. This goes for other viruses too, not only HIV. What researchers have found is that large amounts of free melittin can cause a lot of damage.
The paper’s senior author is man called Samuel A. Wickline, MD. Dr. Wickline states that besides the anti-viral therapy, melittin-loaded nanoparticles have another use. That is, they're effective at killing tumor cells too.
This exciting new study shows that melittin loaded onto these nanoparticles doesn't harm normal cells. It doesn't harm them because the hood adds protective bumpers to the nanoparticle surface. This is how it works: the nanoparticles come into contact with normal cells, which are much larger in size. Because of this, the particles simply bounce off.
HIV is different though, in that it's even smaller than the nanoparticle. What this means is that HIV fits between the bumpers and makes contact with the surface of the nanoparticle. This is perfect because here is where the bee toxin awaits.
What happens next is nothing short of amazing. The melittin on the nanoparticles merge with the viral envelope. The melittin then forms little pore-like attack complexes. This goes on to rupture the envelope, thus stripping it off the virus.
You can read about the full discovery below:
Nanoparticles loaded with bee venom kill HIV
Hood JL, Jallouck AP, Campbell N, Ratner L, Wickline SA. Cytolytic nanoparticles attenuate HIV-1 infectivity. Antiviral Therapy. Vol. 19: 95 – 103. 2013
Summary
All the research mentioned above was done in cells in a laboratory environment. Even so, Hood and his colleagues say the nanoparticles are easy to manufacture in larger quantities. This means they can supply enough of them for future clinical trials, which is fantastic news. The research is ongoing, but the potential for this is absolutely huge.