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Researchers succeed in making a major breakthrough in the treatment of HIV
HIV is a disease that has cost several million lives. Researchers have now developed a method that could lead to a cure for HIV in the future. The scientists were able to separate the virus from infected cells in experiments by using cutting-edge so-called genetic editing technology.
The researchers from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University found in their study that a certain procedure, so to speak, the HIV virus can be excised on infected cells. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Molecular Therapy".
When people suffer from HIV, treatment is usually done with special medicines. These can slow down a disease, but must be taken throughout life. Researchers have now developed a method that may eventually lead to complete HIV defeat. (Image: jarun011 / fotolia.com) Experts are removing HIV from infected cells
The HIV virus kills the immune cells of the patients, making them very susceptible to other infections. Apparently, the experts have come a big step closer to curing HIV. Through a genetic procedure, the doctors remove the virus from infected cells. The scientists hope that this method will finally kill the virus and will not recur later.
Through a new procedure, the body heals itself, so to speak
The new technology allows us to change the genes of humans and animals. In other words, one could say that this procedure causes the body to heal itself from the inside, the experts explain.
Process extremely successful in the treatment of mice
The researchers of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine have succeeded in their research, the HIV virus completely shut down. To do this, they eliminated the virus from the tissue of mice. The experimental animals had previously been transplanted with human immune cells. The mice were also infected with the HIV virus, say the scientists.
HIV virus is removed from the genome of the tissue
The new treatment, so to speak, causes the body to heal itself. For this purpose, the HIV virus is removed from the genome of the tissue, explains the author. Wenhui Hu. This breakthrough in the treatment of HIV is very exciting, adds the physician.
Treatment effective on different models
"We were able to confirm the data from our previous research and, in addition, improve the efficiency of our gene editing strategy," says the expert. Wu. The new strategy has proven effective in two additional mouse models. In one model, there was an acute infection in the cells of the mice, in the second model, a chronic or latent infection of human cells was investigated, the author explains.
Previous medication must be taken for life
Antiretroviral drugs are currently very effective in controlling HIV infection, but patients need to take these medicines throughout their lives, say the doctors. When sufferers stop taking these drugs, the virus replicates very quickly and eventually leads to the immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS.
Modified Cas9 protein recognizes viral code
The new technology, called Crispr / Cas9, involves targeting the genetic code of HIV that fits into the infected cells. In this type of treatment, a so-called Cas9 protein is modified so that it can recognize the viral code, the experts explain.
Taken blood is examined for HIV DNA
Then, the patient - in this case a mouse - is bled and the Cas9 protein added. This begins to search the HIV DNA in immune cells. Once it finds HIV DNA, it releases an enzyme that removes the sequence. The healthy, modified cells are then returned to the patient's body, explain the scientists.
Perhaps the new process will allow a complete cure in the future
The researchers suggest that replacing only twenty percent of the immune cells with genetically modified cells would be enough to achieve complete cure of the disease. The physicians now hope to achieve similar positive results in experiments on primates. After that, finally, tests on people are possible, which could begin before 2020, the researchers explain. (As)