Inventor of Microsoft's spam filter perceives that the principle operating to keep spam out of inboxes can as well work to keep the AIDS virus at bay.
David Heckerman, who is a doctor apart from being a Microsoft researcher, shifted his attention from protecting email systems to protecting body systems, and has been working for the past seven years to prepare an HIV vaccine.
AIDS Virus is Barred from Several Areas of Genes
In a major development, scientists of the German Cancer Research Center have now shown that the AIDS virus almost entirely spares particular sites in the human genetic material.
Advertisement
"We have an adversarial situation going on between spam filters trying to block the spam and the spammers changing and mutating," the Age quoted him as saying.
"And in the case of HIV, we have the immune system fighting the virus and HIV mutating to try to get through," he said.
According to him, the key to fighting spam and HIV is the same - find the part that absolutely can't mutate - what he calls the Achilles' heel - and attack there.
![People With HIV Dementia Harbor Distinct AIDS Viruses in Cerebrospinal Fluid]( "People With HIV Dementia Harbor Distinct AIDS Viruses in Cerebrospinal Fluid")
Research has shown that when the HIV infects the central nervous system, it can lead to the development of a severe neurological disease called HIV-associated dementia (HAD).
"It mutates a lot, but it can't mutate to where it stops functioning... if it does do that, we win," he said.
The work now is to find the point up to which the virus can mutate, and beyond which it will die.
Herckerman and his team are crunching enormous amounts of data with the help of thousands of computers in order to find clues to where that point may be.
"I think it is a solvable problem, but we have a lot of work left to do... But I'm working on this every day, and I'm hopeful," he said.
Source: ANI
According to him, the key to fighting spam and HIV is the same - find the part that absolutely can't mutate - what he calls the Achilles' heel - and attack there.
People With HIV Dementia Harbor Distinct AIDS Viruses in Cerebrospinal Fluid
Research has shown that when the HIV infects the central nervous system, it can lead to the development of a severe neurological disease called HIV-associated dementia (HAD).
Advertisement
"It mutates a lot, but it can't mutate to where it stops functioning... if it does do that, we win," he said.
The work now is to find the point up to which the virus can mutate, and beyond which it will die.
Herckerman and his team are crunching enormous amounts of data with the help of thousands of computers in order to find clues to where that point may be.
"I think it is a solvable problem, but we have a lot of work left to do... But I'm working on this every day, and I'm hopeful," he said.
Source: ANI
Spam Emails Claiming Celeb Deaths Spreading Virus, Invisible Spyware Online
Internet security experts have warned that a number of spam emails claiming death of A-list celebrities actually contain a virus or invisible spyware.
Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Latest AIDS/HIV News
In India, annual HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths continue to drop. Between 2010 and 2021, new HIV infections dropped by 46%.
Globally, all countries have promised to end AIDS by 2030, for which it is essential to safeguard individuals living with HIV to complete HIV care services.
How can you prevent HIV while breastfeeding? A monthly vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine safely prevents HIV infection while breastfeeding.
Union Minister of State for Health Bharti Pravin Pawar had said that the government is providing free lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) medicines for people living with HIV.
Dr. Korosi said the goal to end AIDS by 2030 is badly off track, as inequalities, discrimination, and disregard for human rights are hampering our progress.