Bananas may hold the key to curb HIV transmission

A new study has given some hope on controlling the transmission of HIV by use of Bananas. So effective is the chemical found in banana can surpass two current synthetic anti-HIV drugs T-20 and Maraviroc in terms of performance. The study conducted by University of Michigan Medical School was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.As per the study, Benlec, a lectin compound found in Bananas holds the key to prevent HIV transmission.Lectins can be defined as proteins that bind carbohydrates.

Lectin in the form of BenLec has the capability to bind to carbohydrates of the HIV-1 envelope thereby inhibiting viral entry and thus preventing sexual transmission of infection. "Lectins can bind to the sugars found on different spotsof the HIV-1 envelope, and presumably it will take multiple mutations for the virus to get around them.” lead author Michael.DSwanson said.

Using BenLec to develop an anti-HIV microbicide would mean a breakthrough in the efforts to contain the transmission of HIV. Not only would this microbicide keep the synthetic components at bay but would also prove cost effective. It is expected that 20% coverage with a microbicide that is only 60% effective against HIV may prevent up to 2.5 million HIV infections in three years.

Though Condoms are a safe method to prevent the spread of HIV, its usage has not gained popularity in developing nations. The use of condoms in these countries where the risk of infection is the highest is restricted due to cultural inhibitions. This is where BenLec based microbicide is expected to achieve results. "That’s particularly true in developing countries where women have little control over sexual encounters so development of a long-lasting, self-applied microbicide is very attractive”, revealed study Senior Author Dr. David Marvovitz.

Prior to this study, Co Authors Erwin Goldstein and Harry Winter had developed means to isolate BenLec from Bananas using biopurification method .Now to take these efforts forward Michael Swanson is developing a process to enhance BenLec’s potential clinical utility through molecular alteration. Swanson is a doctoral student in the graduate program in immunology at the Univ. ofMichigan Medical School.

Though there is still a very long way to go, a lead in the form of BenLec could hold the key to changing millions of lives across the world.
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