Study: Bee Venom May Kill HIV
This could be a big deal. We've had "major developments" that have disappointed before. Let's see what happens. Via Huffington Post: A new study has shown that bee venom can kill the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have demonstrated that a toxin called melittin found in bee venom can destroy HIV by poking holes in the envelope surrounding the virus, according to a news release sent out by Washington University. Nanoparticles smaller than HIV were infused with the bee venom toxin , explains U.S. News & World Report. A "protective bumper" was added to the nanoparticle's surface, allowing it to bounce off normal cells and leave them intact. Normal cells are larger than HIV, so the nanoparticles target HIV, which is so small it fits between the bumpers. “Melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral envelope,” said research instructor Joshua L....