Nigerian pop singer Wizkid welcomes young new artiste “Terri” to his record label, starboy entertainment. The singer took to his twitter pa...
Experts say gene therapy could finally be used to treat Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) – after a decade of trying to replicate the transplant that cured a patient in Germany.
Although there is no definitive cure for the disease, there have been many advances in treatment that have made it possible for patients to live longer lives.
Last year, the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared that people who religiously take their HIV medication for six months can reach a point where their virus is not transmittable.
However, experts say gene editing — which has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat cancer and a rare form of childhood blindness — has been developed to such an extent that it could be viewed as the best answer for a cure.
Matt Chappell, of San Francisco, California, has been taking the strongest AIDS drugs for more than a decade, but they weren’t able to full control his HIV infection.
He then participated in a gene therapy experiment in 2014 where scientists removed some of his blood cells, disabled a gene to help them resist HIV, and returned these ‘edited’ cells to him.
So far, it has given Chappell the next best thing to a cure.
“I’ve been off medications for three and a half years,” he said. He even was able to keep the virus in check despite cancer treatments last year that taxed his immune system.
Chappell was lucky, though. Only a few of the 100 others in those experiments were able to stay off HIV drugs for a couple years; the rest still need medicines to keep HIV suppressed.
Now researchers think they can improve the treatment and are trying again to tackle HIV by doctoring Deoxy ribonucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material. New studies to test these tweaked approaches in people are getting underway.
“Gene therapy techniques have advanced greatly,” said Dr. Otto Yang of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) AIDS Institute, one place working on this. “A lot of people are thinking it’s the right time to go back.”
They include Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is funding some of the new studies.
Although Fauci doesn’t think the technique will become common because millions of people do well on existing treatments, he says it could help those who can’t easily control the virus, and should be pursued because it holds potential for a cure.
“They’re very bold, innovative techniques, mostly to try and cure people,” he said. “It’s worth trying because the science is there.”
More and more experts are turning to gene-editing to prevent HIV.
A 2016 study published in the Scientific Report revealed researchers at Temple University developed a gene editing method that detects HIV DNA in people’s T cell genome, the DNA set of a type of white blood cells.
Once the DNA is edited out, the loose ends of the genome that were once attached to the HIV infection are reunited by the cell’s own DNA repair system.
Not only is the cell HIV-free, but it’s also protected from a new infection.
So far, Timothy Brown is the one of only two people in history to have been cured of HIV.
He had a bone marrow transplant more than a decade ago to cure his leukemia, and the stem cells came from a donor with natural immunity to HIV.
The donor lacked a common gene that makes an entryway HIV uses to infect T cells.
This transplant, which replaces a sick person’s immune system with stem cells from the bone marrow of a healthy person, gave Brown that protection, but procedures like that are too risky and impractical for wide use.
In fact, attempts to replicate Brown’s procedure has been deadly.(Guardian)
Experts say gene therapy could finally be used to treat Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) –...
Two Bbnaija 2018 housemates Miracle and Nina were caught under the duvet engaging in what seems like sex as Miracle’s face did give out all the details.
Watch below;
Video credit: 60sec9janews
Two Bbnaija 2018 housemates Miracle and Nina were caught under the duvet engaging in what seems like sex as Miracle’s face did give out...
Speaking on Friday while receiving a delegation from the International Republican Institute, IRI, led by its president, Daniel Twinning, he argued that the practice of calling public officials elected into executive positions leaders of their parties prevents political parties from being truly independent.
Dogara harped on the need to strengthen political parties, adding that recent development in South Africa demonstrated that political parties could be independent.
According to him, “there is one problem that we must address in this country and that is that elected officials, especially those in the Executive, are always regarded as leaders of the political party.
“That is where we have a very serious problem in this country and if an elected Executive is the leader of the political party, the situation you find on ground is that every political actor within the entire party architecture must pander to the whims and caprices of that elected official.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has adduced reason President Muhammadu Buhari and other persons elected into...
D’Prince is here! He opens his account in 2018 with a spanking new single. He features DMW’s head honcho – Davido and leader of the Supreme Mavin Dynasty.
The single was produced by Don Jazzy.
Listen and enjoy!
D’Prince is here! He opens his account in 2018 with a spanking new single. He features DMW ’s head honcho – Davido and leader of the S...
Following the news of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo‘s daughter Dami‘s engagement, rumors went around the country that the husband-to-be is a Muslim.
The Senior Special Assistant to the VP on Media & Pubicity, Laolu Akande cleared up the rumors via his Twitter account.
He said that the fiance Olusegun Bakare is a member of the RCCG Abuja Central Parish and even a Teenagers Pastor there.
Read the tweet below:
Following the news of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ‘s daughter Dami ‘s engagement, rumors went around the country that the husband-to-be i...
Womenswear brand Makioba just unveiled its February 2018 lookbook for the season of love.
Adding to the brand’s already impressive plus size designs, the outfits range from figure-flattering midis to free-flowing dresses that transition from day to night effortlessly.
Sticking to a romantic theme, there is an abundance of floral motifs and embellishments that give a soft appeal. There is also an interjection of darker colours that can be worn long after the day of love. And, of course, lots of red.
See the full lookbook below:



















Credits
Designer: Makioba | @MakiobaOfficial
Photography: Smiles Fotografi | @SmilesFotografi
Model: Tunmise Oshanisi | @everbold
Makeup: Damola Adeniji | @House_of_Aphrodity
Welfare: Maseba Bob-Manuel | @masebobmanuel
Womenswear brand Makioba just unveiled its February 2018 lookbook for the season of love. Adding to the brand’s already impressive plus s...
BBNaija 2018 housemate K.Brule full name Kelvin Brouillette is your easy going, fun loving guy. He doesn’t like confrontations, from the way he stays clear of trouble, even when his partner, Khloe bullies him.
He has also shown that he is a soft man, knowing just how to calm a temper down.
So what do you know about this fair cute guy?
Here are 7 things you probably didn’t know about K.Brule
1. K.Brule is 23 years old.
2. He was born to a Nigerian mother and an American father.
3. K.Brule grew up without really knowing his father since he abandoned him and his mother before he was born.
4. He has a strong passion for music and went ahead to complete his studies at Point Blank Music School in the U.K. He developed his music skills here.
5. While studying in the University of Essex, he had to drop out because of his mother’s illness.
6. He is an upcoming rapper, composer and producer. He has some collaboration with Chocolate City and some singles under his name.
7. K.Brules favorite hobbies are playing football and watching movies.
BBNaija 2018 housemate K.Brule full name Kelvin Brouillette is your easy going, fun loving guy. He doesn’t like confrontations, from the...
