Mushroom shelling

2003/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) has been used against cancer, but it seems that it can also be effective as a therapy for fungal infections.

Research has been done with mice. The radioactive atoms of bismuth 213 and renium-188 have been used against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, frequent in AIDS patients. Consequently, in 60% of mice the infection has receded. And in addition, unlike radioimmunotherapy against cancer, this therapy has not damaged the spinal cord of mice.

The therapy is based on the radioactive atoms of bismuth-213 and renium-188, which destroy cellular DNA. These atoms are injected into the blood, where they stick to the antibodies, reaching the infection area and covering the pathogen, avoiding damaging adjacent cells.