Pokeweed Antiviral Inhibits HIV
WESTPORT, Conn-Researchers from the Parker Hughes Institute in St. Paul, Minn, have found that pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) inhibits HIV-1without injuring sperm or female genital tract epithelial cells.
The nonspermicidal antiretroviral treatment could allow pregnancy of women in couples where the male partner is HIV-positive without putting the mother and fetus at risk of contracting the viral infection.
PAP comes from purified leaves of Phytolacca Americana and has shown broad antiviral activity against a number of pathogenic viruses. It has shown to protect against HIV-1, herpes simplex virus, and cytomegalovirus.
The discovery is important because it is a potent antiviral agent that has no adverse effects on either sperm function or female genital-tract epithelial cells, making it a fitting ingredient for spermicides.
PAP is said to directly inactivate the virus as well as interrupt the virus life cycle under conditions that do not affect sperm function.
Information from: www.hivandhepatitis.com
Standing Up for Science: A Rally Participant’s Perspective
March 11th 2025Infection Control Today's Editorial Advisory Board member and contributing editor, Heather Stoltzfus, MPH, RN, CIC, recently joined the Stand Up for Science rally in Washington, DC. She gives a first-person perspective on the rally and the rally-goers' strong message.
