New Wonder Drug Kills Almost Any Virus

[YunikoYokai5]

Eh, the viruses will eventually adapt. At some point, it's going to be overused and will face very similar problems to what we are having with antibiotics.

Perhaps but I don't think so. How can a virus develop and change if the host cell dies? Viruses are only able to reproduce within a living cell, so if DRACO kills the cell before the virus replicates, the virus can't mutate/evolve/adapt.

Also, it's very stupid to try and erase viruses, They help all life to evolve in a sense of an endless arms race. They mutate into something powerful, we develop more powerful immunities.

While I agree with you that it is silly to remove all viruses, what about viruses that just about destroy the immune system, like HIV? The immune system can't adapt if its being weakened to the point of failure against even common viruses


OT: Why does everyone immediately jump on the zombie apocalypse wagon? Well, lets hope this gets tested throughly and gets used to help people. If it works, we could see a reduction in viruses like HIV.

 

[Cid Silverwing]

If this suddenly turns rouge and kill every human in the world, it will at least have a very fitting name.

Yes, very much. *sips tea and adjusts monocle*

Seriously though, if this actually breaks through and becomes an omnipotent killer of all viruses - *dons tuxedo*

Gentlemen.

We may have found the panacea.

 

[Therumancer]

My immediate thought is kind of silly, but it's one that I've been having a lot recently. With the supposed end of the world on it's way in 2012 it does seem like we're going out of our way to develop as many potentially apocolyptic things as we can, and otherwise match the past stereotype of a society 2" away from fiery judgement.

In this case, when I look at a medical cure that basically works by killing otherwise healthy cells before they can become infected by a virus, I can't help but think that this sounds exactly what would be a weak justification for something that leads to global zombi-fication in a third rate horror novel.

On a more serious note, I do hope it works out. Like most medical treatments it will get cheaper as time goes on.

 

[Cpu46]

Watch as it works perfectly but you have to take it every week due to it allowing your immune system to effectively die from inactivity.

Then anyone who can't afford the drug just drops dead.

Then they rise again? (zombies)

??? (Shotgun to the face)

Profit? (Loot the zombie bodies)


OT: Sounds good for people with horrible viruses but the ramifications of using this on every virus regardless of severity are potentially more harmful than the viruses themselves. I don't want humanity to be like the Quarians in 100+ years because we shot our immune system in the foot.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

I say this without a trace of irony or pop-culture: I see this being capable of going very, very wrong

Seconded, like not allowing killed cells to regenerate.


Still, amazing breakthrough.

 

[VanityGirl]

hurry up and get a cure for Alzhiemers, HIV and cancer!

 

[k7avenger]

How the hell can something become resistant to killing off its capability to reproduce? This isn't antibiotics here folks. There's no toxin in play here. This doesn't effect the virus itself, but the cells that are already infected. Its as if at THIS VERY MOMENT humanity found itself with no more food at all; would you expect us to suddenly mutate to not have to eat? No, that wouldn't happen because we would all die before any offspring could be born. There is no "starvation immunity" so to speak. A virus would infect a cell, that cell would die, and that would be the end of it. If a virus found a way to reproduce without infecting human cells, thus not inuring the wrath of DRACO, then it's not our problem, now is it?

EDIT: Or think of it like this. Say you just developed a bomb proof car, and you plan to manufacture them. Only problem is, your factory ISN'T bomb proof as there are no ways to make factories bomb proof. And it just so happens, someone with bombs doesn't like bomb proof cars. Guess what happens? You build the factory, someone comes and blows it up.

 

[Elamdri]

Why not just call it Kalocin

 

[MorganL4]

The big question is: Will it work on HIV???

 

[Genixma]

I'm going to wait for the side effects...you know:
"Side effects may include: nausea, vomiting, water weight gain, lower back pain, receding hairline, eczema, seborrhea, psoriasis, itching and chafing clothing, liver spots, blood clots, ringworm, excessive body odor, uneven tire wear, pyorrhea, gonorrhea, diarrhea, halitosis, scoliosis, loss of bladder control, hammertoe, the shanks, low sperm count, warped floors, cluttered drawers, hunchback, heart attack, low resale value on your home... feline leukemia, athlete's foot, head lice, clubfoot, MS, MD, VD, fleas, anxiety, sleeplessness, drowsiness, poor gas mileage, tooth decay, parvo, warts, unibrow, lazy eye, fruit flies, chest pains, clogged drains, hemorrhoids, dry heaving and sexual dysfunction." -Jeff Foxworthy

 

[Fbuh]

So it causes the cell to self terminate (cellf terminate!! lol!!) when it becomes invaded? So, theoretically, you could have a virus that invades a massive amount of the host's cells, say 1/3 of their body. DRACO comes along anf then KILLS ALL OF THOSE CELLS. I'm not a scientist, but I think a person could not survive with 1/3 of their body gone. Damn Malfoy punk.

Why not just call it Kalocin

Silly goose, Kalocin also worked on cancer. DRACO wont. That's right, someone else here read The Andromeda Strain.

 

[Denamic]

As awesome as this is, I'm still hoping for a cure for old age.

 

[Shifty Tortoise]

I trying to decide whether this will turn into I am Legend or 28 Days Later

 

[notimeforlulz]

If this suddenly turns rouge and kill every human in the world, it will at least have a very fitting name.

It shall kill every virii in the world! It is the 1st and 4th horsemen for the 2nd horseman... It's name, is fitting enough. Now if only they could trick viruses into eating chemicals that resemble the stuff they like to eat that's in our cells, but is instead artificial and poison to them! We'll be all set.

Also: to the people who are all like: SUPERVIRII! Here's a truth smack down for you. Super viruses already exist, they are the way they are because our immune system kicks their ass. The number of different adaptions different virus families have to evade, not defeat because they can not, but evade our immune system, is remarkable. This DRACO unfortunately won't defeat dormant viruses - that sleep undetected and attack when the immune system is weak, or a virus like AIDS, but it goes a long way for the other types or viruses, which coincidentally are the ones that are airborne.

As for a virus that would enjoy a surge in dominance because of this drug killing it's competitors; does not exist. As our immune system has less of a strain against say h1n1, another virus, for example a dormant weak immune activated one like HSV, we're carrying will suddenly find itself up against the full force of our immune system.

Shit, considering the benefit this will have to us in defeating pesky infections and letting our immune systems deal with some thing else, cancer rates will take drop after it's introduced.

 

[TornadoADV]

So it causes the cell to self terminate (cellf terminate!! lol!!) when it becomes invaded? So, theoretically, you could have a virus that invades a massive amount of the host's cells, say 1/3 of their body. DRACO comes along anf then KILLS ALL OF THOSE CELLS. I'm not a scientist, but I think a person could not survive with 1/3 of their body gone. Damn Malfoy punk.

A person with already one third of their mass infected by a virus is already dead. (You know, when their infected cells die or explode from being a virus's *****.)

 

[DanDeFool]

You know, I was just thinking about a week ago, "If HIV only infects T-cells, maybe you should just get rid of all the T-cells in the body, and wait for all the HIV to die off."

I think this is a better idea.

 

[cobaltfram]

My partner has HIV, and the meds for that, even though they have come an incredibly long way, are still very rough on the body. I'm curious to see what sorts of side-effects DRACO would have on a person, because if it's going to cause hallucinations, waking dreams, rapid weight loss, sweating, and night terrors, I really don't know if it's worth it for a cold or the flu.

That said, it could wipe out HIV; in widespread use, it COULD be used to wipe entire diseases of the face of the planet.