Yogurt bacteria may help prevent AIDS and HIV Transmission

January 18th, 2006

Yogurt

Nature magazine reported that yogurt bacteria may be helpful in blocking HIV transmission according to researchers in the US and the UK. The original research paper was reported in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Scientists at Brown Medical School in Rhode Island, and UK’s Food Research Institute used genetically altered yogurt bacterium, Lactococcus lactis, and made cyanovirin which was shown to stop HIV infection in the cells of monkeys and in humans.

The yogurt bacterium is found in the stomach and vagina where it can stop growth of bad bacteria. The report said that it could be more helpful than a vaccine because it could be applied directly to the vagina for treatment and can also live in the vagina for as long as a week.

Further tests of the bacteria treatment will be with monkeys. It is in hopes that the bacterium will offer protection from catching AIDS and HIV. Countries such as Africa that are devastated by these diseases will benefit if this treatment is successful.