Studies have found that women with low levels of lactobacilli (naturally occuring bacteria) are more likely to contract AIDS. As Bacteria Could Fight Off AIDS Virus in Women explains, scientists are considering engineering bacteria with an AIDS-fighting boost:
Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said they gave the bacteria an extra boost by adding the gene for CD4 — one of the molecular doorways that HIV uses to get into cells.If HIV latched onto CD4 on a lactobacillus before it reached a human cell, it might remain harmless, Lee said. Then the bacteria might destroy the virus with naturally produced lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide.
Tests on lab dishes full of cells showed the genetically engineered bacteria reduced the rate of HIV infection in cells by at least half. Preliminary studies using monkeys showed the engineered bacteria grew well and were safe, the researchers said.