A.I.D.S. Antibodies In Saliva (Press, 17 February 1986)

Researchers have discovered antibodies to the HIV virus in the saliva of individuals with AIDS, potentially providing explanations for why the disease is not transmitted through kissing or other forms of saliva contact. The findings also pave the way for the development of simpler saliva-based screening tests as an alternative to blood tests for detecting exposure to the virus. Historically, while the HIV virus has been occasionally found in the saliva of some AIDS patients, no evidence has substantiated transmission through saliva, with sexual intercourse and the injection of contaminated blood remaining the primary modes of transmission. Dr David Archibald from the Harvard School of Public Health highlighted that the presence of antibodies could mean that the saliva's natural germ-fighting properties are deactivating the virus, rendering it non-infectious. The study examined 93 individuals and revealed that 70 per cent of AIDS victims and 93 per cent of individuals with AIDS-related complex (ARC) had antibodies present in their saliva. Additionally, 45 per cent of sexual partners of AIDS and ARC sufferers, as well as 22 per cent of healthy homosexual men, also exhibited these antibodies, while none were found in a control group of 20 individuals classified as low-risk for AIDS. Dr Jerome Groopman, a co-author of the study, noted a disparity in findings, as another study indicated that only 1 per cent of homosexual men with HIV antibodies had the virus in their saliva. This raises questions about the virus's detectability in saliva, as Dr Archibald suggested that it might be bound to antibodies, thus making it harder to identify through current testing methodologies. Despite the antibodies being present in both saliva and blood, Dr Archibald posited that the saliva version might be more effective in neutralising the virus, a phenomenon he hopes to explore in future research. These antibodies indicate a prior exposure to the virus and do not always suggest a progression to AIDS. The implications of this research are significant, as it opens the door for developing new, potentially cheaper, and easier screening methods that could be especially beneficial in developing regions. Dr Archibald even suggested that home testing for AIDS could become feasible, although current technology does not permit this outside of laboratory environments. This study was published in the journal "Blood," reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance understanding and testing of the AIDS virus and to improve public health responses to the epidemic.

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