The New Virus Killer

Scientists try to turn HIV’s greatest strength—mutation—against itself

By Gregory Mone Posted 01.15.2009 at 2:37 pm 11 Comments

Death by Mutation A scientist isolates virus samples from an AIDS patient. Hank Morgan/Getty Images

At first it sounds like a terrible plan, the kind that results in zombies ruling the Earth. Imagine a killer virus, a bug that mutates so often that it inevitably finds a way to resist every drug. Now, rather than fight its ability to evolve, you enhance it. You speed up the mutation rate, forcing such dramatic genetic change that the virus crashes completely. In the movies, this technique, known as lethal mutagenesis, would create a supergerm, but in real life it’s spawning a powerful new class of antiviral drugs. “It’s a fundamentally different strategy,” says University of Washington biologist Robert Smith. “Death by mutation.”

Few Options: A clinic in India admits 60 HIV patients a day as the worldwide total hits 33 million. M. Lakshiman/AP Photo

Several university labs are investigating this tactic for combating viruses such as hepatitis C and West Nile. But the research that’s furthest along, and that a few pharmaceutical companies are backing, targets HIV, a virus that is rapidly out-evolving the medications on which 33 million infected people depend. Seattle-based Koronis Pharmaceuticals is leading the way with the first HIV mutation booster to advance to human trials.
Known as KP-1461, the drug employs a counterintuitive attack. When an HIV particle invades a cell, it transforms its genetic information into double-stranded DNA. The cell, mistaking the infected DNA for its own, replicates it and churns out more HIV particles. Most drugs disrupt this process, but HIV evolves around them. KP-1461 lets the replication run so wild that the virus self-destructs.

The trick is disguising the drug’s molecules as the building blocks of HIV. When the virus replicates, it inserts the KP-1461 imposters throughout its genetic code, creating so many mistakes that it no longer has enough viable DNA to sustain its basic functions, let alone take over a host cell. As a result, the virus dies.

KP-1461: KP-1461 molecules [yellow] kill a virus by disrupting DNA [blue] replication. Koronis Pharmaceuticals

Though promising, the basic premise has raised concerns about cultivating that Hollywood-caliber supergerm. Louis Mansky, a virologist at the University of Minnesota, says that risk is minimal. In nature, he points out, the vast majority of mutations are either harmful or neutral to organisms, and a virus must replicate 10, 20 or even 100 times for drug resistance to evolve. Crippling the bug before that stage is key, he says.

But nailing that cutoff remains a sticking point. Mansky is lab-testing a drug cocktail that kills nearly the entire population of HIV cells after just one round of replication, but human tests are a few years away. Koronis’s clinical trials of KP-1461 last summer weren’t as effective as lab tests. Jeff Parkins, the vice president of clinical development, says researchers are honing the dosing strategy for trials planned for later this year.
Harnessing lethal mutagenesis may soon become easier, following a new mathematical formula by bioengineer Michael Deem of Rice University that could help researchers fine-tune compounds earlier in the process. Given a few key variables, such as how often viral genes shuffle inside cells, his equations can provide the minimum mutation rate to safely kill a virus. At this pace the virus won’t have time to correct errors or absorb drug-evading changes, and it will crash. “It’s not going to come back and cause problems,” Deem assures.

Coupled with work like Deem’s, lethal mutagenesis could lead to a penicillin-like drug that knocks out numerous viruses—influenza, SARS and more. Parkins maintains hope that his company’s drug could eradicate HIV, or at least offer an alternative to current treatements. And that, researchers say, is what makes the mutation tactic attractive. “Even if it just leads to a different antiviral,” says virologist Satish Pillai of the University of California at San Francisco, “it would still be great for patients who have very few options left.”

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11 Comments

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apostleshadamishe

01/15/09 at 3:07 pm

THE CURE for HIV/AIDS.......AMBUSH

THE IDEA that AMBUSH cures AIDS
is being proven by the more than 400 individuals who have taken a dose of 60 ml three times daily for 21 days. The result is that AMBUSH 'KILLS' the virus by causing the protein envelope to rupture and the viral particles are discarded by the white blood cells. AMBUSH is able to 'KILL' the virus that are 'hiding' in the lymph system by its 'natural radioactive' properties. This process allows the body to 'return to normal health' with a corresponding immunity to that or those strains of the virus.

What is AMBUSH ?
AMBUSH is a radioactive isotope of uranium that is found in the 'palm' plant of which there are more than 3000 species. When ingested, AMBUSH causes the body temperature in the trunk area to rise to about 102 degrees when the individual is sleeping. The preparation takes four hours per batch, which is then given to the individuals for consumption 60 ml three times daily for 21 days. AMBUSH is a herbal preparation in this form but it contains an active ingredient which is a 'NEW' crystalline substance, a drug from the 'palm plant' similarly to ASPIRIN originating from the willow tree bark

RESULTS:
After 21 days on AMBUSH, ALL the individuals experienced a decrease in viral load to undetectable, an increase in cd4, increase in RBC, an improvement in general health such as more color to the face, decrease in Buffalo hump, an increase in gluteal muscles, a decrease to having no joint pains whereby individuals can bend to touch their toes, and walk up steps are but a few examples. There is also a dramatic increase in their sexual appetite beginning after the first week of therapy

DISCUSSION:
In any plant concoction such as percolated 'tea', there are 30-40,000 compounds, whi ch would take the scientific community twenty years to isolate one particular ingredient if they knew what they were looking for. The LORD GOD has given me seven steps to isolate the active ingredient, which is soft and metallic in nature and has a carbon- uranium-sulfur-(classified)-phentolamine configuration or structure. This is similar to Federick Kekule and the discovery of the benzene ring where he dreamt the structure.

As an antiviral and 'natural radioactivity' producing agent, AMBUSH is also effective against leukemia, lupus and HPV. Here I am saying that I have 'GIVEN' AMBUSH in the same 'strength' and dosage to patients with leukemia, lupus and HPV. A 35 year old male with HIV found it difficult to impossible to urinate was put on 'green tea' and water while the doctors contemplated prostrate surgery. One of the doctors gave him my number , I sent him a supply of AMBUSH an d he has not been given any more ARV's, since taking AMBUSH 18 months ago, is in 'good' health and has expressed a willingness to be examined by HIV investigators like many others who have taken AMBUSH.

I have sent this 'IDEA' to most HIV research agencies, scientist of the field, universities, hospitals, clinics, politicians and news agencies to which it is REJECTED because the name of THE LORD GOD is mentioned. He has steered me scientifically through the processes such as which plant and how to produce the active ingredient. What are the odds of a Florida Pharmacist picking a plant would contain the CURE for HIV/AIDS ?
I have never charged any of the people for their supply of AMBUSH but a life saving has been spent on the project with NO renumeration from any sources because AMBUSH falls outside the walls of modern medicine and research.

PROPOSAL:

My proposal is that I PROVE that AMBUSH CURES HIV/AIDS by giving it to a number of END-STAGE or DRUG-RESISTANT people and the scientific community watches their recovery. This proposal addresses the problem in that I have already outlaid the results to be obtained.

This IDEA is unconventional in that the scientific community has rejected AMBUSH because I say it is GOD given. Secondly if I wrote it according to certain standards, then it might be peer reviewed. However, THE LORD GOD has also shown me that there are five enzyme systems associated with the virus, reverse transcriptase, protease, fusion and two more of which causes the virus to be AIRBOURNE. This means that without DIVINE intervention mankind and ALL warm- blooded mammals will be extinct in a number of years.

The PROOF of what I am saying is found in scientific papers wherein it is found that when the protease cuts the viral strands, it cuts it at DIFFERENT lengths EVERY time, to which it should always be a valine at the end but is a different amino acid every time. This is why it is IMPOSSIBLE to produce a VACCINE.

Since this is NOT a hypothesis but there are about 400 individuals who have taken AMBUSH, here lies a vast area in which to check, recheck and confirm that AMBUSH CURES AIDS. Let it be mentioned that during the HIV reproductive cycle, reverse transcriptase converts viral RNA into DNA compatible to human genetic materials. Thus the human DNA has been 'hijacked' and since each person has a DIFFERENT DNA, then the new viral copy is unique to that person which shows that each individual has a DIFFERENT STRAIN of the virus. Consider two HIV positive people swapping viral strains and increasing its complexity with multiple partners.
It can also be proposed that they be revisited as proof that the strain or strains that they had were 'killed' at the time of taking AMBUSH considering that a person can catch as many different strains as there are people who are infected by HIV.
I am also willing to work with the scientific community in identifying those individuals who took AMBUSH and wish to be identified with this process notwithstanding that some are stigmatized while others are jubilant,

Once AMBUSH is verified as being able to accomplish that which is aforementioned then the next stage might be the natural and artificial synthesis of the substance.

Finally, if this is accepted or not, believed or not, THE LORD GOD always wins and this is the heavenly truth to which AMBUSH was divinely given to mankind for the CURE of HIV/AIDS and it will be here forever. Apostle Shada Mishe.

apostleshadamishe@gmail.com

Here is a video taped presentation that I gave at t he Martin Luther King library in Washington

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V53D1w__Po
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPwuwlVBOV0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZejptOwMTzQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqcTgIAhrhc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7HPKcT_iwY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9iQfgiYAnw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3RzRS6tJDM

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ghost

01/15/09 at 4:59 pm

It's not lupus!

hello doom sayer, nice to meet you, first off if your going to try to keep the mythbusters in business you should know what your talking about, AIDS isn't a virus it's a deficiency of white blood cells caused by the virus HIV, if your going to rant on about this you should prove you know the difference between the two, for for your sake I'm just going to guess that you do in fact know the difference.

Secondly why are you posting this here? it seems counter intuitive to post the "cure of HIV" in the popsci blog, instead why not post it in the part of the internet which actually care. like with the people who believe in the Aztec doomsday on 2012.

also if you'd like me or anyone for that matter to believe you, you'd better start giving names of these "people" who have tried your miracle cure for HIV.

third point, you shouldn't bring this directly to the FDA, assuming that is where you brought it, they won't listen to anyone without at least 8 years of med school. instead you should bring it to a few independent licensed medical doctors to look over your "facts" for you.

4th point, if in fact i'm understanding your post corretly you want to take a palm plant, ???, then make a profit by having people ingest sulfur, uranium, carbon, and whatever else is left, just so they can be cured of HIV? putting aside the fact that sulfur is pretty bad for you uranium will kill you if ingested, it's the stuff that causes cancer! and you want HIV patients to ingest that?

final point, so if God did give you this why are you mentioning it to the people who your trying to convince that this works to, they won't listen, it doesn't matter if your right or most likely wrong, they won't listen to a religion spouting moron who blames bad research and bad practices on atheists not believing that your right simply because God gave it to you.

thank you and good night!

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Oakspar77777

01/16/09 at 8:22 am

Let us think for a moment of a disease that is spread by human contact (a handshake, a hug, etc) for which there is no cure. Without symptoms, the infected cary it for three days, afterwards, they show symptoms for up to three more days and then die.

What would the US and the CDC do about that? Quarenteen.

Make the vector veneral (usually), extend the carrier time to 1-10 years, and delay the dying time by up to another 1-10 years. Then you have HIV, and the CDC does far less.

AIDs, once it was discovered, could have been quarenteened, and would have settled itself out (of the US at least, and we have the resources to extend that elsewhere if we lead the way, Smallpox proved that).

We didn't however, because it was veneral and running through the gay community. There were equal parts "this is God judging them, let it run its course" and "quarenteening a predominately homosexual community looks like 'detainment/concentration camps.'" Later it became a "3rd world problem" which, of course, we know there is no help for.

Testing is cheap and quarenteening is a tried, true, humane, and valid medical exercise in the abscence of a cure.

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cjmiller2213

01/16/09 at 1:07 pm

This entire post is for 'ghost'. I can't get over how much of an absolute pissant you really are. To sit here and bash such an profound discovery presented by the first poster is ludicrious. You really need a higher education before coming on this site and trying to 'disprove' people - you sound about as smart as a teenager trying to preach the ways of goth culture. Without further ado:

'ghost':
"hello doom sayer, nice to meet you, first off if your going to try to keep the mythbusters in business you should know what your talking about, AIDS isn't a virus it's a deficiency of white blood cells caused by the virus HIV, if your going to rant on about this you should prove you know the difference between the two, for for your sake I'm just going to guess that you do in fact know the difference. "

Where does he say AIDS is a virus? Tell me where. He clearly identifies the TWO main vehicles for the disease HIV and AIDS - he NEVER calls AIDS a virus.

----

'ghost':
"Secondly why are you posting this here? it seems counter intuitive to post the "cure of HIV" in the popsci blog, instead why not post it in the part of the internet which actually care. like with the people who believe in the Aztec doomsday on 2012."

You simply should have stayed posting on the site you reference - your 'friends' there might share the same view, but NOBODY here likes a bitch. You have ZERO proof this DOESN'T work - he is giving as much as anyone wants to learn. You have ZERO proof you know what you are talking about - he clearly couldn't make this stuff up if he tried. Where else would you post this type of information? THIS IS AN ARTICLE ON A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SITE ABOUT AIDS YOU FLIPPIN MORON! Where else would you propose he post such a remarkably sad story about how our scientific community represents a crew of narcisstic conservatives mainly in the business to MAKE MONEY. He NEVER claimed such an idea - he NEVER said he made any profit at all.

'ghost':
"also if you'd like me or anyone for that matter to believe you, you'd better start giving names of these "people" who have tried your miracle cure for HIV."

You really are stupid aren't you. Have you ever heard of CONFIDENTIALITY? Probably not, I apologize for bringing up such a big word for such a small thinker.

'ghost':
"third point, you shouldn't bring this directly to the FDA, assuming that is where you brought it, they won't listen to anyone without at least 8 years of med school. instead you should bring it to a few independent licensed medical doctors to look over your "facts" for you."

Most intelligent thing you have posted. I agree. Verfiable tests like this would surely open up the community to the amazing discovery the poster has found. I don't doubt he has probably tried, only to be shot down by people in the same way you are bashing him on here.

'ghost':
"4th point, if in fact i'm understanding your post corretly you want to take a palm plant, ???, then make a profit by having people ingest sulfur, uranium, carbon, and whatever else is left, just so they can be cured of HIV? putting aside the fact that sulfur is pretty bad for you uranium will kill you if ingested, it's the stuff that causes cancer! and you want HIV patients to ingest that?"

You OBVIOUSLY don't understand his post correctly, so you shouldn't have even tried. He explained this pretty good: 'AMBUSH is a radioactive isotope of uranium that is found in the 'palm' plant'...'seven steps to isolate the active ingredient, which is soft and metallic in nature and has a carbon- uranium-sulfur-(classified)-phentolamine configuration or structure'. He NEVER said he is giving the patients straight uranium. You are such a dolt.

'ghost':
"final point, so if God did give you this why are you mentioning it to the people who your trying to convince that this works to, they won't listen, it doesn't matter if your right or most likely wrong, they won't listen to a religion spouting moron who blames bad research and bad practices on atheists not believing that your right simply because God gave it to you."

You are so wrong it is unmeasurable. 'religion spouting moron' - what the hell do you think EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN? Scientific methodologies come very close to many, many things - but for some, there is simply no explaination for things other than God. If the Great Lord above doesn't want anyone to live, I am sure he could easily snap some fingers or whatever - that is a literal sense of how God operates that many, many fanatics believe is to be law - but the way I percieve things, God allows us to figure things out when we are ready - we are certainly ready for such discovery. AIDS/HIV has cause numerous heartaches and civil unrest in parts of the world - is it really so crazy to think a plant (where 85% of the world's cures come from) could produce a cure to this? Forgive me for sounding so harsh in this rebuttal, but people that lash out at posts like this, with ABSOLUTLEY ZERO amount of factual research to back it up (prove the poster wrong - go get AIDS and try his cure - if it doesn't work, come back and then tell us how you feel). Simply bashing someone for explaining a VERY DETAILED means to CURE the disease - you have about as much worth as a baby cockroach in my mind.

Now - thank YOU and good night.

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RLM

01/16/09 at 3:03 pm

@ cjmiller2213:

The first poster, apostleshademishe, is a spambot. The same comment gets posted on blogs around the internet related to HIV/AIDS.

Whether or not you agree with what he's selling (which is what the comment is, a sales pitch) and whether or not you agree with his "science," this is a discussion forum, and I for one am not interested in reading canned responses that aren't about the original popsci article.

Try not to be so defensive.

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DMB41

01/16/09 at 4:34 pm

Anyone notice the blood agar plate with BACTERIAL colonies on it, but the caption says “Death by Mutation: A scientist isolates virus samples from an AIDS patient.”
Ha; a funny CSI error here.

The science presented in the article is intriguing and hopefully will be rewarding. But mention of the previous not-so-successful trial is concerning.

As for the first comment post: no science presented there; just someone boosting about a unsubstantiated herbal product. That comment and the following next two were very entertaining thank you! All. PS I’m with ghost on this one.

I wonder. How many times there have been legitimate herbal products that never undergo rigorous scientific testing cuz people like the first poster are behind them? On the other hand I wonder how many of these are just bullshit.

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njdevil

01/16/09 at 4:49 pm

does anyone else get the feeling that 'cjmiller2213' and 'apostleshada-whatever-', might be the same person? nobody argues for someone else's point like that, or copies their use of caps in a sentence.

oh by the way:
"he NEVER calls AIDS a virus."
>"The result is that AMBUSH 'KILLS' the virus "

I dunno, sounded like he said virus to me, but what do I know

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njdevil

01/16/09 at 4:53 pm

Yeah both accounts are just a few hours old, I'm guessing he didn't want to look like an idiot so he made a new account to defend his first one.

loser.

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HardEye101

02/02/09 at 5:07 pm

I really believe that there cannot be a cure for such wonderful money generating diseases. There is a great deal of money to be made from 'Aids Prevention' and other gimmicks that perpetuate the pandemics. I do not believe that the Pharmaceutical industries, the CDC and the FDA are willing to risk losing their shares with a cure. Death brings money!

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jdlaughead

from Poultney, VT

02/22/09 at 1:36 am

What gets me,is that I feel B-12 (Cyanocobalamin) can destroy any virus,if the dosage is strong enough, whereas it does destroy the Flu & Cold viruses. www.popsci.com/node/22953

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Mikel

05/05/09 at 6:15 am