Tag Archives: GMO

Can We Manufacture “Magic” Rice to Treat HIV at Low Cost?

It appears that we can finally provide cheaper methods of HIV treatment to benefit patients in developing countries, where it is most needed. But is the world ready to accept this magic treatment?

In Rice Field – Photo by zcf428526 on Pixabay

In a study published on July 2018, Dr. Vamvaka and her team of scientists from various countries concluded that using rice grains to produce HIV-neutralizing agents is possible, at a cost much lower than current manufacturing methods allow.

Current methods use mammalian or microbial cells to produce proteins against the virus, however “these are expensive because the products must be extensively purified”, as the study points out. Additionally, the manufacturers must make several different proteins, to ensure treatment even if the virus mutates.

Plants seemingly offer a novel alternative. Cereal grains allow multiple proteins to be produced on the same grain and are safe to use as crude extract without extensive purification.

Sounds easy enough. But does it really work? The answer is yes.

After the study, researchers found that they could yield enough modified grains. The extracts from these grains also successfully neutralized the virus even at very low concentrations.

So, in theory, rice could be our new savior against a deadly virus. The researchers certainly think so. “This groundbreaking strategy is realistically the only way that microbicidal cocktails can be manufactured at a cost low enough for the developing world, where HIV prophylaxis is most in demand.”

But…

This is where things take a turn. Can we really propose that the world should suddenly rely on genetically modified organisms for treatments? As in the widely feared GMOs?

It won’t be easy.

March Against Monsanto Vancouver- by Rosalee Yagihara in Flickr. Monsanto, a company known for manufacturing GMO seeds, received a lot of backlash.

Let’s look at the results of a survey about the public opinion towards GMO’s.  CBC News states that in 2016, 62% of the respondents would prefer non-modified food. Why? Because they believe it is safer.

Forget about surveys. In Turkey, we have TV programs where people show up to claim any genetic process means playing God and is against religion. So, let me ask a simple question. If my country is like that, what is the possibility that other countries share similar opinions? I say it is very possible.

What is one glimmer of hope? The treatment from rice would be produced as medicine rather than a food item. People seem to be more accepting of modifications when the product is a drug.

In essence, yes, scientifically this is the most feasible method that is out there so far. Can we have people accept this treatment? It surely will be a struggle.

Nevertheless, it is a significant step towards combating HIV in the developing world, and I hope that we soon see the treatment in clinical trials.