West African HIV Drug Screening Capacity

描述（由申请人提供）：本AIDS-FIRCA的目的 应用是为了检验西方使用的传统药物 并对中非艾滋病的治疗有直接的抗艾滋病活性。 该项目将补充正在进行的支持相关的ICBG的药物 西非和中非生物多样性的发展和保护。“是 据估计，撒哈拉以南非洲有2200多万人感染了 艾滋病。有证据表明艾滋病在中非存在了几十年 它在西方被广泛认为是一种流行病。这意味着当地 事实上，治疗者已经治疗艾滋病几十年了。这些传统 治疗策略是基于数百年来的实践 利用本地植物群治疗传染病的经验。艾滋病是一 复杂的疾病，死亡的近端原因是由于 受害者的免疫系统被削弱。然而，很可能许多 目前由传统从业者采用的疗法有直接的 抗HIV活性。这一假设得到了初步筛选的支持， 35提取物的植物用于艾滋病。在2个样品中发现了有效的抗艾滋病毒活性， 提取物的浓度对培养的人T细胞无毒。一 将采用非感染性全HIV病毒复制试验来检测 植物提取物的抗HIV活性，并指导活性的分离 件.本试验将在尼日利亚的国际 民族医学和药物开发中心（Inter CEDD）。它将 必须发展有效哺乳动物细胞培养能力 国内。这项申请要求资金提供次要但必要的 设施的设备。它还将提供旅行援助， Akubue，Chah或Oboegbulem博士将在Barrows博士的“药物测试”中接受培训 设施”在犹他州大学。该应用程序还将提供旅行 协助Barrows访问Inter CEDD并在实验室设置中提供咨询， 培训当地科学家执行筛选方案， 等

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this AIDS-FIRCA application is to test the hypothesis that traditional medicines used in West and Central Africa for the treatment of AIDS have direct anti-HIV activity. This project will complement the ongoing support of the associated ICBG 'Drug Development and Conservation of Biodiversity in West and Central Africa." It is estimated that over 22 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV. There is evidence that AIDS existed in Central Africa for decades before it was widely recognized as an epidemic in the West. This implies that local healers have, in fact, been treating AIDS for decades. These traditional treatment strategies have been based on hundreds of years of practical experience with the use of local flora to treat infectious diseases. AIDS is a complex disease, the proximal cause of death being super-infection due to the victims weakened immune system. Nevertheless, it is likely that many of the therapies currently being employed by traditional practitioners have direct anti-HIV activity. This hypothesis is supported by the preliminary screening of 35 extracts of plants used for AIDS. Potent anti-HIV activity was found in 2 of the extracts at concentrations not toxic to cultured human T-cells. A non-infectious whole HI V-virus replication assay will be employed to test plant extracts for anti-HIV activity, and to guide the isolation of the active components. This assay will be established in Nigeria at the International Center for Ethnomedicine and Drug Development (Inter CEDD) at Nsukka. It will necessitate development of a working mammalian cell culture capacity in-country. This application requests funds to provide minor but essential equipment items for the facility. It will also provide travel assistance for Dr.s Akubue, Chah or Oboegbulem to train at Dr. Barrows' "Drug Testing Facility" at the University of Utah. This application will also provide travel assistance for Barrows to visit Inter CEDD and consult in the lab set-up and training for local scientists in implementation of the screening protocols, etc.