Research Are cows the key to treating HIV?

Cows' antibodies could neutralize HIV
HIV is a widespread disease throughout the world that often causes the death of those affected. Researchers now found that some animals quickly produce specific types of antibodies that can neutralize HIV. Cows have developed a very strong immune defense because of their complex digestive system. Experts are now investigating whether cows' antibodies can be used to neutralize HIV.

Scientists from the International Aids Vaccine Initiative and the Scripps Research Institute found in their current research that cows have a very strong immune system and produce antibodies that could actually neutralize HIV. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Nature".

HIV is a difficult to treat disease. Physicians have now discovered that cows can produce antibodies that rapidly and effectively neutralize HIV strains. (Image: dietwalther / fotolia.com)

HIV virus mutates quickly and is difficult to treat
HIV is a very difficult disease to treat. The virus mutates rapidly when a patient's immune system has found a way to combat it, say the authors. However, there are a small number of patients who eventually develop extensive neutralizing antibodies after years of infection.

Antibodies were produced in a short time by the cow's immune system
A new vaccine could now train the immune system to produce these largely neutralizing antibodies early in the disease. For this purpose, the experts tried to immunize cows. The required antibodies were produced within a few weeks by the cow's immune system, the scientists explain.

Cow antibodies neutralize 20 percent of HIV strains within 42 days
In humans, it takes three to five years for the required antibodies to develop, for cows only a few weeks. "Who would have thought that cows can make a significant contribution to the treatment of HIV," the study authors emphasize. The results of the study showed that the cow's antibodies can neutralize twenty percent of HIV strains within just 42 days.

Antibodies were able to neutralize 96 percent of the strains studied
Finally, after 381 days, it was possible to neutralize 96 percent of the strains tested in the laboratory. Unlike human antibodies, so-called livestock antibodies have unique properties. The structures of the antibodies of humans and cows are structured differently.

The digestive system of cows is home to many bacteria
Cows are ruminants, they have a special digestive system to digest the consumed grass. The digestive system of the animals is teeming with hostile bacteria. This is why the animals have developed the necessary antibodies to keep the bacteria at bay, the experts explain.

Are cows a source of new medicines?
The results of the study show that cows may be a source of drug production in the future. This may produce microbicides to prevent HIV infection. But the real goal is to develop a vaccine that will make the human immune system produce antibodies that can fight the disease, the researchers explain. The current cattle study can help to achieve this goal.

Exceptional immune systems are of particular interest to physicians
Since the early days of the HIV epidemic, it has been known that the virus mutates very quickly to counteract treatment. For this reason, extraordinary immune systems that are capable of producing natural, largely neutralizing antibodies are of particular interest. It does not matter if these antibodies are found in humans or animals, the experts say.