Genetically modified Lactic acid bacteria inserted with the Cynovirin gene is found to protect from HIV attachment to Mucous membrane from infected partner.
Professor Bharat Ramratnam, Assistant Professor, Brown Medical School is exploring the beneficial properties of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which is a good probiotic bacteria which is used for fermentation of curd and yogurt, used as a probiotic drug in treating throat infections and also as applications in saving fish culture system from pathogenic bacteria.
Cynovirin protein is found to inhibit the binding of HIV virus into the mucous membrane of humans reducing the HIV infectivity. Professor worked on this principle and inserted the Cynovirin DNA in to the LAB through genetic engineering technique of Electroporation through which the Cynovirin DNA is inserted into the LAB and when this LAB is prepared in cream and foamy lotion applications which his applied as a protective shield before sexual intercourse the LAB produces the cynovirin protein which protects in avoiding the attachment of HIV if present in the other partner to this partner.The researchers also found that these shield also protects from infection of other Sexually transmitted diseases. Researchers have found that this recombinant cream protects infection in experimental animals and a clinical trial for validation of this new cream is necessary before the cream can be used in humans.
