Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 9/19/2011

Question
Dear Dana

1. Can a HIV infected Patient's Blood be used for other Patients of the same blood group. i.e if another patient gets the Blood of a HIV Infected Patient, are there any chances of affecting the Blood Receiver of HIV Virus ?

2. Why there is no cure or vaccine available for HIV Virus till date. Do you think the vaccines for the same are achievable
with Extensive Medical Research in Pathology and other related Medical Fields  ?

3. If in the near future,  Medical Scientists/Physiologists/Researchers do come out with Vaccines for the same, will he/she/ will // should get a Nobel Prize in Physiology ?

Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar

Answer
Dear Prashant,

1.  An HIV-infected person should not be a blood donor.  The virus can pass to another person in a blood transfusion.

2.  Amazing progress is now being made with new research in gene therapy for HIV-infected individuals.  Check it out:  http://tinyurl.com/69nosxd

The virus mutates quickly, so vaccine manufacturers are hard-pressed to simply keep up with its changing identity.  Gene therapy might be the final cure that's been sought for so long.

3.  The Nobel Prize is given for lifelong achievment in an area.  Scientists and teams of scientists are nominated from all over, and then the governing body for the prize votes to determine the winner.  A team that discovers a cure for AIDS will certainly be in the running for the prize in the future.

Hope this helps.

Dana