Tauriq Moosa - November 21st, 2008 in News 0 votes Vote Up! Vote Down!

It is beautiful to think that we are able to give a fellow human being a new chance at life. In any way, shape, or form, I rejoice in such stories. I hope that these few snippets will bring a smile to you, dear readers.

1. Hoorah for stem cells

The first woman to think of is Claudia Castillo who “has become the world’s first recipient of windpipe tissue constructed from a combination of donated tissue and her own cells.” The collapse of her tracheal branch of her windpipe after a bout of tuberculosis.

Stem cells harvested from the woman’s bone marrow were used to populate a stripped-down section of windpipe received from a donor, which was then transplanted into her body in June.

Five months later and Claudia’s body has showed no signs of rejecting the graft. A “new age” in surgical care, indeed! This spells great things for future patient!

2. Closing the door on HIV/AIDS

My country suffers from a ridiculously high degree of HIV/AIDS sufferers.

Over 5.5 million South Africans are HIV positive, more than any other country. The pandemic primarily affects the sexually and economically active members of society and has left an estimated 1.2 million Aids orphans in its wake.

We have had our own government provide quack therapies and even going as far as “AIDS denial“, with no basis in evidence for either.

Yet, a recent developement is a reason for cautious celebration.

The startling case of an AIDS patient who underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia is stirring new hope that gene-therapy strategies on the far edges of AIDS research might someday cure the disease.

However, the caution resides. Whilst it opens up a new therapeutic approach, scientists are at pains to reduce the danger to the patients and test subject. It worked so far, on this patient. But it might be a fluke. Yet, the fact remains that he is off his AIDS medication; and has not succumbed to full blown, auto-destruction which normally follows such a secession of treatment.

The mechanism itself is quite incredible, within the body that is “immune” to AIDS. It is essentially a mutation on a person’s cells, which lacks the molecule known as CCR5. CCR5 acts like a “door” for the virus – thus no CCR5, no doors for HIV! The mutation is the lack of CCR5 on a cell. Treatment has already focused on blocking the site of CCR5 (See the excellent illustration in the article itself).

This mutation has happened to many who seem to be waste-deep in HIV danger. It was identified amongst gay men, who had hundreds of sexual partners who were immune. It was also identified amongst African women, Chinese and others.

Not only that, but a possible future “elixir of youth” also helps to fight HIV – or at least provide the body with better fighting equipment to forestall it.

This all makes me very happy . I am proud to consider myself of the same species that has created such brilliant schematics for a restored life. Hoorah for science!

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