In a recent study conducted by Washington University School of
Medicine in St. Louis and published in the the journal Antiviral
Therapy, researchers have demonstrated that a toxin called
melittin found in bee venom can destroy HIV, the virus that
causes AIDS, by poking holes in the “envelope” surrounding the
virus. “Melittin on the nanoparticles fuses with the viral
envelope,” said research instructor Joshua L. Hood, MD, Ph.D.,
via the news release. “The melittin forms little pore-like
attack complexes and ruptures the envelope, stripping it off the
virus.” Adding, “We are attacking an inherent physical property
of HIV. Theoretically, there isn’t any way for the virus to
adapt to that. The virus has to have a protective coat, a
double-layered membrane that covers the virus.” Hood hopes that
eventually a gel could be made and used by both men and women to
stop the virus head on. “Our hope is that in places where HIV is
running rampant, people could use this gel as a preventative
measure to stop the initial inf