The role of breast milk in preventing the spread of HIV

Research on compounds that prevent AIDS infection by breast milk .

Sugar-containing compounds in breastmilk may reduce the spread of HIV from mother to child (Photo: nutritionnc) Recent research from the lab has shown that sugars containing breast milk can reduce the HIV transmission from mother to child. This study does not mean that HIV-positive mothers are breast-fed because the virus can still be transmitted through this pathway! However, if it is possible to succeed in the future, this finding may open up a new hope for preventing sexual transmission of HIV.

We have long known that breast milk contains some compounds that fight HIV. Louise Kuhn, a HIV infection researcher at Columbia University, New York, said: "Breast milk contains a lot of beneficial agents such as maternal antibodies."

Bill Paxton and his colleagues at the University of Amsterdam have shelved studies of anti-HIV compounds in milk that they think are specifically targeted. The authors claim that the aforementioned secret substance is Lewis X, a sugar that can be found in saliva and blood.

Prevent cohesion

HIV infects and destroys T cells with CD4 +, which is an important component of the immune system, causing AIDS. According to the researchers, the HIV virus can enter T-cells with CD4 + because they are attached to another cell type of the immune system, dendritic cell.

Paxton's team found that HIV cannot bind to dendritic cells if compounds containing Lewis X are attached to a specific protein on the cell surface. Dendritic cells concentrate mostly in the tonsils, so they can easily bind to the much-present Lewis X compound in milk during a baby's feeding.

In some tested breastmilk samples, breastmilk has the ability to prevent HIV from adhering to surface cells despite 500 times dilution. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Risk analysis

Although this discovery opened up a huge prospect, however, warned by David McDonald, a virologist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio: "If this is an obvious fact, why are there still kids? HIV infection from breast milk? ". According to UNICEF's report, about 200,000 babies are infected with HIV every year from their mothers. Between 10% and 20% of children infected with HIV from their mothers after 2 years of breastfeeding.

Paxton objected to this argument and said that without this protection in milk, the number of infected children would be even higher.

Public health experts are still debating the risks and benefits of breastfeeding babies from their HIV-positive mothers. However, WHO still recommends that for mothers with AIDS, substitute agents should be used if possible.

Start step

Paxton is planning to study mothers who can reduce the spread of HIV through high sugar content in milk. "It's not an easy job," he said, "in part because of the need for ethics that newborns must be protected from HIV infection in every way possible."

Plaxton's primary goal is to find a substance that can block HIV to use it to kill HIV right from the time it has not been infected (antiseptic). It may be a gel or a sponge cream designed to prevent HIV from spreading through the vagina during sexual activity. Experts say women prefer to use antiseptic agents to use condoms, which need partnerships. Perhaps, in the future, people will give a variety of 'sugar molecules' to the aforementioned sponge or cream mixture.

McDonald's hopes "If it can act as an antiseptic, this will be a great tool."