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Friday, April 24, 1987 / University Daily Kansan
KU AIDS researcher looks for a cure
By AMBER STENGER
Special to the Kansan
When KU's sole AIDS researcher walks into his laboratory in Haworth Hall, he tries to be hopeful.
Each day, Charles Wood, assistant professor of microbiology, works to crack the code of the AIDS virus. He enters his office, which is permeated by the musky odor of chemicals, dons a white lab coat and sits behind a desk covered by charts, papers, studies and scientific journals.
"There are so many problems to tackle. What we can do is really minor. It is frustrating. The AIDS virus is such a smart virus." Wood said.
Wood is one researcher upon whom the country depends for a solution to the public health threat posed by acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Kansas has three or four AIDS researchers.
According to a spokesman for the National Institutes of Health in Washington, NIH has allocated $252,483,000 for AIDS research for fiscal year 1987. Wood receives $70,000 of that each year.
Wood views his research as a discovery, which helps him overcome his daily frustrations.
"When youaire doing research, you are looking into something unknown," he said. "It is a challenge. One you hope you can meet."
Wood's life has been filled with challenges. He left his home in Hong Kong for a college education in the United States. After he graduated from the University of Kansas in 1975, he earned master's and doctorate degrees at Columbia University in New York City.
Wood began studying AIDS in 1983 at Abbott Co., a Chicago pharmaceutical company.
AIDS is a disease that attacks the body's immune system. It is transmitted through the exchange of bodily fluids such as semen or blood.
Wood has clear goals as a researcher.
"The two main questions we are trying to answer are: One, is there a possibility to develop a vaccine against the virus?" And two, can we develop an early detection of AIDS?" Wood asked.
Research is difficult because of the virus' complexity. It has 10 known strains, and each strain has hundreds of mutations.
Every virus is encompassed by an
envelope coat within the body, which produces antibodies to neutralize the virus. On this envelope, there are viral protein markers that look like small dots. Normally, the antibodies can rid the body of the disease by targeting these protein markers.
"The reason why we cannot effectively protect ourselves from AIDS is because the surface markers change from strain to strain. There is a tremendous amount of variability." Wood said.
Wood is trying to find patterns in the variations between each strain. He looks at different strains of the virus and compares the degrees of variation between each.
"We and others have found that there are certain regions that vary, and there are certain areas that are much more conserved." Wood said. "So, presumably, these conserved areas may be a good target to develop protective antibodies."
Wood's research, using recombinant DNA techniques, concentrates on the envelope markers. Because the cells require a specific gene, and his staff cannot become infected.
Three graduate students assist Wood in his lab. Mindie Windheuser, who is working on a doctorate degree in microbiology, was apprehensive about working with AIDS at first.
"Initially, I was a little afraid. But, I thought that Wood would not be working with it if it were not safe for himself," said Windheuser, who is from Lawrence. "Then, I learned that since we work with the DNA of the virus, unless you have a complete infectious form of the whole DNA, it is not infectious. Even if I were to inject myself with part of the fragment, the most I could do is cause my body to produce antibodies."
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug azidothymidine, or AZT, for widespread treatment of AIDS. The prescription drug, called Retrovir, will be marketed by Burroughs Wellcome. AZT now is the most promising AIDS treatment, but it only stops the reproduction of the AIDS virus within the body.
"AZT contains the disease, but it is not a cure." Wood said. "Clinical studies have shown that damage to the cells has already been done."
AZT, because the manufacturing of the drug lagged far behind the demand for it.
But AZT has several complications. Wood said that not all of the 34,000 people in the United States who have AIDS could be treated with
Another backdraw of AZT treatment is its enormous cost. AZT is usually taken every four hours and may be needed the rest of the patient's life. This treatment can cost the patient from $7,000 to $10,000 each year. Many AIDS patients have lost, or never had, health insurance.
Besides problems with the cost and availability, AZT also can cause side effects. Some patients treated with AZT develop anemia and require blood transfusions regularly. AZT also can cause headaches and nausea.
"We don't know the long-term side effects from AZT. There could be complications from it. And, not everyone will benefit from it," Wood said. "Hopefully, it will be carefully monitored until another drug is found."
Developing a more reliable AIDS test is another objective of Wood's research. Because of the continuous mutations of the virus, researchers do not know by every strain of AIDS is detected by the current AIDS tests.
The AIDS tests detect the production of antibodies in the blood, which is a sign that the body is trying to ward off a virus. But it can take two to four weeks for the antibodies to develop, depending on the individual. So if a person was infected as long as a month ago, the blood test may not show that he has contracted AIDS.
"For example, if I contracted the virus two days ago, the virus would be inside me. But, I haven't developed any antibodies yet." Wood said. "So, if you screen my blood, it will come out negative, when in fact, I will be infected. That is the danger of these tests."
An initial AIDS test costs from $2 to $3. If the test results are positive, another test, which costs about $60, is performed.
A more accurate test does exist. Cells are taken from the individual and placed in an artificial culture and observed to see if the virus develops. But several weeks are required for the virus to grow in the
culture.
It is performed only on individuals who are thought to be in the high-risk population. It cannot be used to meet the increasing demand for more AIDS tests because of the length of time it requires and because of its cost.
Although Wood's research is financed by the NIH, KU provided the initial funds to help Wood equip his laboratory.
"It would help to have others working with me—the more collaboration we have,the better it is," Wood said. "But there is a lack of researchers, because there is so much fear in working with this disease."
Lawrence Draper, professor and chairman of the department of microbiology, said he did not know how many research would take place at KU.
"The University is not in the position to specify an area of research to the professors," Draper said. "We may recognize important areas of research, but we do not make specifications on types of research."
Since June 1981, 19,658 people have died in the United States from AIDS. The national Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta estimates that 179,000 people will die of AIDS by 1991.
In Kansas, 40 people have died of AIDS, and as of April 13, 67 cases were reported. About 20 of the Kansans with AIDS are between the ages 20 and 29.
Despite these discouraging statistics and obstacles, Wood's determination to defeat AIDS has not waned.
"I hope my work will lead to some very useful discoveries in the medical world. That is what motivates me."
Gardeners hoe rows ignore frost warning
By LAURA BOSTROM Staff writer
Warm temperatures have ripened many Lawrence gardeners to begin their spring planting, but gardening experts advise holding back until May 10.
Staff writer
Pence said a plant's name often dictated its commercial success.
"They're just going wild, they're planting everything," said Fred Pence, owner of Pence Landscaping and Lawn Care, 15th and New York streets.
"Like Big Boy tomatoes," he said. "I've got 10 varieties out there better than Big Boy, but people still come in and ask for that name."
Debutts said he often changed plant brands, although he had some favorites. Last year, he planted Ken's and Blake's. He switched to Blue Lake Pole Beans.
Klein said Jet Star and Supersonic were some other memorable tomato names. But this season's front-runners are Presidential and Celebrity brand tomatoes.
The threat of frost hasn't slowed down Roy Debutts, or his garden. Debutts, 80, was weeding around his strawberry plants yesterday afternoon in North Lawrence.
Much of Debutts' 3/4-acre garden has been planted, and already he has picked and eaten some of his lettuce
The date of the area's average last frost is April 25, said Sam Hoffman, Pence garden center manager, but he didn't know if there was a possible cold freeze May 7 or 8.
But that chance of a frost has not discouraged eager gardeners, said Dave Klein, manager of Earl May Garden Center. 3200 Iowa St.
"People are buying vegetables, lots of peppers and tomatoes," Klein said. "But keep in mind, if we get a frost they're gone."
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"I put in lettuce, tomatoes and onions over a month ago," he said.
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Debutts said he wasn't worried about a frost.
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