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Duke Doctors Discover Possible HIV Deterrent In Breast Milk

HIV microscope image, virus, disease
Duke University

Duke researchers say a protein in breast milk may be a key in preventing babies from contracting HIV from their infected mothers. 

The protein Tenascin-C is produced by the body to aid in helping wounds heal.  Doctors found after isolating the breast milk component that it neutralizes HIV transfer even as breast-fed babies are exposed multiple times daily.  

Sallie Permar is a professor of pediatrics at Duke.  She says their questions now center on moms with HIV.

"What is the function of this protein that's made in mothers who transmit the virus versus those who don't transmit the virus? And can we detect a specific amount that you have to have in breast milk in order to prevent transmission or a specific variant of this protein in order to effectively protect your infant?" Permar says.

Permar says the discovery could also be a direct benefit to all children who breastfeed

"One very unique property of this protein is it should be inherently safe, especially in infants, because it's already a component of breast milk," she says. 

"And so providing additional amounts of this protein to infants should be safe, but we have hope that it could be developed for other modes of HIV transmission as well."

The study is detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Gurnal Scott joined North Carolina Public Radio in March 2012 after several stops in radio and television. After graduating from the College of Charleston in his South Carolina hometown, he began his career in radio there. He started as a sports reporter at News/Talk Radio WTMA and won five Sportscaster of the Year awards. In 1997, Gurnal moved on to television as general assignment reporter and weekend anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston. He anchored the market's top-rated weekend newscasts until leaving Charleston for Memphis, TN in 2002. Gurnal worked at WPTY-TV for two years before returning to his roots in radio. He joined the staff of Memphis' NewsRadio 600 WREC in 2004 eventually rising to News Director. In 2006, Raleigh news radio station WPTF came calling and he became the station's chief correspondent. Gurnal’s reporting has been honored by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, the North Carolina Associated Press, and the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas.
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