HIV Gel

HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a very dangerous STD, Sexually Transmitted Disease, that can eventually lead to death in an HIV carrier. This disease is most prominent in Africa where it is estimated that over 88% of people live with HIV. This is because numerous rapes and sexual activities take place without the use of a condom. But a new vaginal gel has been tested on women and has shown that it is effective. This gel has an anti- HIV drug called tenofovoir, when applied around and in the vagina it gets absorbed by the cells that are normally affected by HIV. 889 sexually active women between the ages of 18 and 40 in KwaZulu, South Africa took place in the experiment. One group contained 445 women and they were given the tenofovoir gel. The other group contained 444 women and they were given a placebo. All of the women were instructed to apply the gel apporximately 12 hours before intercourse and approximately 12 hours after intercourse, along with using condoms and other forms of HIV protection. The women in the tenofovoir group showed 39% less HIV contractions than the women in the placebo group. And women in the tenofovoir group that applied the gel as instructed showed 54% fewer infections than the women in the placebo group. The gel also decreased the infection rates for herpes simplex virus 2 (causes cervical cancer and increases the chance of being infected with HIV) by 50%. Obviously, the tenofovoir gel has great potential and even though it's not perfect it is a great start.

This article relates to biology because it focuses on a very dangerous virus that has affected many people. HIV causes the immune systems effectiveness to decrease, thus making the carrier more premeable to getting viruses, infections and colds. There is no known cure for HIV which is why this gel is so important. The tenofovoir gel can save lives now and future lives as well.

HIV is most prominent in Africans and also in African Americans. With so many people carrying the virus it is very possible to become infected if protection is not used during intercourse with an infected person. So many people have already died of the virus and it is certain that many more will. So, if there is a way to decrease the infection rate of the HIV virus by half, and other viruses as well, then it should be researched to it's full potential. Precautions need to be taken and they will pay off in the long run.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19203-vaginal-gel-could-slow-spread-of-hiv.html

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/61286/title/Gel_shows_promise_against_HIV