TNI Bureau: Marit Kramski, a scientist from University of Melbourne, claimed that Cows’ milk can be potentially developed into affordable creams that can help to protect humans against HIV.
On her research, Kramski observed that when pregnant cows were vaccinated with an HIV protein, the first milk produced by the cow after giving birth, called colostrum, produced high antibodies to protect its newborn against disease.
Researchers were now planning to test the effectiveness and safety of the milk before turning it into a cream, which will hopefully allow women to protect themselves against contracting the virus during sex, without relying on men. However, the final result could be a decade off.
Support Independent Journalism? Keep us live.
“We think the antibodies bind to the surface of the virus and blocks the protein which needs to be freed to get in contact with human cells — like a key and lock system. If the key’s not accessible or you change the key, you can’t open the door,” Kramski said adding, “It’s a very cheap and easy way to produce a lot of antibodies.”
Kramski had collaborated with Australian biotechnology company Immuron Ltd to develop the milk, and would continue working with them to produce a preventative cream.
Condoms are ‘cheap and easy’ but not an option for everyone with millions of people being infected with HIV every year, she said. “This milk looks like it can be a cheap, easy new prevention tool, because if you use drugs it’s really expensive,” she said