Promising new class of antibodies protects against HIV-1 infection
A group of scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute has zeroed in on a new defense against HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. Led by Ruth Ruprecht, M.D., Ph.D., the team used an animal model to show for the first time that an antibody called Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was effective in preventing infection after mucosal AIDS virus exposure. Worldwide, an estimated 90% of new cases of HIV-1 are caused by exposure in the mucosal cavities like the inside lining of the rectum or vagina.