I wonder if this can be used for other latent viruses that embed in cells like herpes and chickenpox/shingles.
stephen_g · 29d ago
Yeah, latent EBV would be great too since it seems to be one of the main causes of MS.
I believe this is already being researched with mRNA now, it would be amazing if it works out and we could treat all of these.
XorNot · 29d ago
That would be interesting because both of those have links to various late-life neurological conditions aa well.
amy214 · 28d ago
Not just those but there are various other lesser known latent viruses such as JC virus and BK virus. Most of us are infected with these viruses latently. For most of us, they do nothing (that we know of!) for life. For the immunosuppressed (eg AIDS, organ transplants), because there is no immune system to keep these viruses "latent", they do actually reactivate and cause problems. For viruses which operate by embedding themselves in the DNA itself, such that for some time the virus may only exist as information encoded in some nucleotides and not a physical virus, to cure that would be a powerful achievement
Zigurd · 29d ago
MRNA therapies have such high potential, there really ought to be much more public education and outreach to prevent people falling down the quackery rabbit hole. I don't just say that to pile on to the quacks. It's so detrimental and costs so many lives that it's probably a target for influence by adversary nation actors.
dpe82 · 29d ago
If we hadn't had a pandemic in which lots of people lost their collective minds and an irresponsible political machine that took advantage of that, mRNA would be pretty universally hailed as the miracle it is.
That aside, yes. Education is important. Sadly at least in the US some of the people who lost their minds are now in charge of such education.
chasil · 29d ago
This article asserts that white blood cells are the target, but we also know that (within the brain) astrocytes and [iirc] microglia can bear latent infection.
Is such a carrier capable of addressing latent reservoirs inside the blood-brain barrier? Can it cross the barrier, pervade the cerebrospinal fluid, then penetrate all infected cells?
White blood cells are a fantastic achievement, but far from the whole story.
joemazerino · 29d ago
Part of the pushback was the use of censorship apparatus during COVID. Science is supposed to be open to dispute, and silencing opposing opinions only adds to the conspiracy fuel.
the_real_cher · 29d ago
Lobotomy's were viewed to have so much high potential back in the day that they won the Nobel prize.
In true scientific fashion both sides would ideally just stick with the facts.
hobs · 29d ago
There's no "both sides" in science.
sheepdestroyer · 28d ago
Not only in science.
Even (or especially) in impartial journalism or public debate, there's no valid reason why any unfounded (thus illegitimate) opinions should get as much consideration as sound and researched arguments.
more_corn · 29d ago
I mean, there is the side that is backed by evidence and the one that is not.
That’s two sides. I just don’t feel inclined to listen to the side that is not.
the_real_cher · 29d ago
I guess the side that give the Nobel prize to lobotomies wasnt backed by evidence?
Or were they backed by evidence?
And then stronger more compelling evidence came out later against?
Thats kind of how science works, its a process of discovery not a set in stone right/wrong.
Things arent as reductionist as you claim, it does people good when they open their world up to that fact.
therein · 29d ago
[flagged]
foota · 29d ago
Unsubstantiated skepticism is unhealthy.
briangriffinfan · 28d ago
One requires a better reason than simply because they were told that their skepticism is unsubstantiated.
I believe this is already being researched with mRNA now, it would be amazing if it works out and we could treat all of these.
That aside, yes. Education is important. Sadly at least in the US some of the people who lost their minds are now in charge of such education.
Is such a carrier capable of addressing latent reservoirs inside the blood-brain barrier? Can it cross the barrier, pervade the cerebrospinal fluid, then penetrate all infected cells?
White blood cells are a fantastic achievement, but far from the whole story.
In true scientific fashion both sides would ideally just stick with the facts.
Or were they backed by evidence?
And then stronger more compelling evidence came out later against?
Thats kind of how science works, its a process of discovery not a set in stone right/wrong.
Things arent as reductionist as you claim, it does people good when they open their world up to that fact.