Scientists have found ways to use genetically modified rice to prevent HIV

A new study suggests that genetically modified rice may be a way to help prevent HIV disease.

According to Newsweek, in a new publication published this Monday, scientists from the US, UK and Spain explained the technique they used to genetically modify a strain of rice to produce proteins. HIV neutralization. This is the latest attempt in a long-running war that does not end against the global HIV epidemic.

According to the World Health Organization, by the end of 2017, about 37 million people have contracted HIV globally. This corresponds to about 0.8% of adults between the ages of 15 and 49. Africa accounts for nearly two-thirds of all HIV-infected people, or nearly 1 in every 25 adults who suffer from a century disease. In 2017, 940,000 people died of HIV-related diseases. Treatment has also achieved some progress. For example, in the United States, the number of new HIV infections decreased from 135,000 in 1985 to 50,000 in 2010.

Genetically modified rice is the latest attempt in a long-running war that does not end against the global HIV epidemic.

However, there has not been a vaccine dedicated to this disease yet. Therefore, oral and propagating drugs for HIV are still the most effective prevention methods. Oral medications are not always available in developing countries, so we need more solutions. This new strain of rice contains the same HIV-neutralizing proteins as in oral medications, opening up a new potential pathway for prevention and progress towards eliminating HIV.

This type of rice produces two proteins and an antibody that can bind to the HIV virus, preventing them from interacting with human cells. This type of rice can also be put on a topical cream, from which special proteins in rice will enter the body, protecting people from HIV.

Rice is a very good option for developing countries, because people here can grow rice and create this rice for their own use. As a result, they do not need to go to a clinic to receive imported drugs from another country - as mentioned above, are not always available. Areas with the highest incidence of infection can create their own medications for themselves.

However, before this solution can be widely applied, scientists will need to make sure that the new type of rice does not create any substance that could harm the body, as well as overcome the Legal barriers in each country where this type of rice is put into use.