by James R Coffey

Created on: November 27, 2010

Since first identified in 1981, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has claimed more than 25 million lives world-wide, with projections estimating that ultimately this “retrovirus” will claim 90 millions lives in Africa alone. Over the past 30 years, scientists have explored every conceivable avenue of treatment, both manmade and natural, preventative to post-infection, but have yet to discover the long sought “magic bullet.”

While many drugs and so-called “super cocktails” have had a major impact on controlling the virus and extending life expectancy, the search goes on for a vaccine that will help the body resist the initial invasion by this deadly disease. Toward this end, one of the most significant findings in recent years concerns the natural curative powers of plants and scientific proof that fungi contain a number of compounds that can stimulate immune function and inhibit tumor growth in humans. This means that an HIV vaccine may be closer to becoming reality than most people think.

Among the compounds found in many varieties of fungi are those termed polysaccharides, which are large, complex chains of molecules constructed of smaller unites of sugar molecules which are found not only in fungi, but lichens (a symbiosis of fungus and green alga), bacteria, and even in the cell walls of yeast. These immune-activating polysaccharides are similar to those also found in more complex plants such as echinacea and astragalas (a widely used Chinese herb) but in much higher concentrations.

What is especially relevant about these giant polysaccharide molecules is that they are similar to ones found in the cellular membranes of bacteria, and are thus able to trick our immune system into believing it is being invaded, and accordingly, to mount an immune response. Although this perceived threat poses no actual danger, this immune response triggers the increase of a number of macrophage and “killer” T-cell (white blood cell) activity, the very cells HIV infects, opening the door for opportunistic infections (resulting in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: AIDS)

But polysaccharides are not the only active components found in fungi, nor is immune and anti-tumor activity the only influence they have. Smaller compounds such as terpenes and steroids have also been shown to resist the grow of tumors, and a number of what scientists call “protein-bound” polysaccharides have even shown to have antibiotic and

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