Bee Venom Can Kill HIV, Study Shows

Scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered bee venom can kill the HIV virus without harming the body.

Bees could hold the key to preventing HIV transmission. Researchers have discovered that bee venom kills the virus while leaving body cells unharmed, which could lead to an anti-HIV vaginal gel and other treatments.

Scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that melittin, a toxin found in bee venom, physically destroys the HIV virus, a breakthrough that could potentially lead to drugs that are immune to HIV resistance. The study was published Thursday in the journal Antiviral Therapy. http://zaraimedia.com/

"Our hope is that in places where HIV is running rampant, people could use this as a preventative measure to stop the initial infection," Joshua Hood, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement.

The researchers attached melittin to nanoparticles that are physically smaller than HIV, which is smaller than body cells. The toxin rips holes in the virus' outer layer, destroying it, but the particles aren't large enough to damage body cells.

"Based on this finding, we propose that melittin-loaded nanoparticles are well-suited for use as topical vaginal HIV virucidal agents," they write.

Theoretically, the particles could also be injected into an HIV-positive person to eliminate the virus in the bloodstream.

Because the toxin attacks the virus' outer layer, the virus is likely unable to develop a resistance to the substance, which could make it more effective than other HIV drugs.

"Theoretically, melittin nanoparticles are not susceptible to HIV mutational resistance seen with standard HIV therapies," they write. "By disintegrating the [virus'] lipid envelope [it's] less likely to develop resistance to the melittin nanoparticles."

The group plans to soon test the gel in clinical trials.

Source: usnews.com

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Kharif Crops List

The crops that are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops. (also known as the summer or monsoon crop) in India. Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in July, during the south-west monsoon season. The main monsoon season in Pakistan and India runs from June to September.

 Paddy (Oryza sativa, L)

 Guar (F) (Cymopsis tetragonaloba, Taub)

 Castor (Ricinus communis)

 Nagali (Eleusine coracana, G)

 Hy Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, L)

 Chilly (Capsicum frutescens, L)

 Cotton (Gossypium herbaceum, L)

 Jowar (Sorghum vulgare, Pers)

 Sesamum (Sesamum orientale)

 Soyabean (Glycine hispida, Merr)

 Maize (Zea mays, L)

 Urid (Vigna mungo, L)

 Bajri (Pennisetum typhoideum, L)

 Arhar (Cajanus cajan, Milsp)

Ground Nut (Arachis hypogaea, L)

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, Miller)

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The crops that are sown in the winter season are called Rabi crops. (also known as the "winter crop") in Pakistan and India. The Rabi means, when the crop is harvested.Crops that are grown in the winter season, from November to April are called Rabi Crops.Some of the important rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard.

 Maize (Zea mays, L)

 Lucerne (Hedicago sativa)

 Cumin (Cuminum cyminum, L)

 Coriender (Coriandrum sativum, L)

 Wheat (Triticum vulgare, Vill)

 Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum, L)

 Gram (Cicer arientinum)

 Onion (Allium cepa, L)

 Mustard (Brassica juncea, L)

 Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum, Mill)

 Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare, Miller)

 Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

 Isabgol (Plantago ovata. Fors)

 

Oat (Avena sativa)

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