Home

[reekz]

AN HIV cure is a step closer after scientists found a molecular "kill switch" that stops infected cells reproducing.

Lifelong drug treatment can prevent the virus leading to Aids — but it remains dormant and can reawaken if therapy is stopped.

A molecular 'kill switch' could stop cells infected with HIV from reproducing
Getty - Contributor
A molecular 'kill switch' could stop cells infected with HIV from reproducing
But now, scientists in the US believe they have made a breakthrough – discovering "one of the key switches that the HIV field has been searching for three decades to find".

Drugs stop virus replicating

When a person is diagnosed with HIV, doctors start them on antiretroviral treatment straight away.

The combination of three drugs – typically taken in one tablet – work to stop the virus replicating in the body.

By doing so, it reduces a person's viral load – the amount of HIV in the blood.

Once a person's viral load drops below a certain threshold, it is described as being undetectable – which means they cannot pass the virus on to a sexual partner, even if they have unprotected sex.

While the treatment is highly effective, it does not amount to a cure. Instead the virus does remain active – though at a very low level – in the body.

If antiretroviral therapy is stopped, these HIV reservoirs that lie dormant, can reawaken.

One step closer to 'Holy Grail'

But the new findings from the University of California San Diego raise hopes that scientists are one step closer to that "Holy Grail".

Using genetic sequencing the team identified a key cellular player in controlling how HIV reproduces in immune cells.

Lab tests showed when the RNA molecule – dubbed HEAL – is turned off, or deleted, it eliminates the dormant HIV reservoirs hiding in the body.

Dr Tariq Rana, the author of the study, said: "The most exciting part of this discovery has not been seen before.

"By genetically modifying a long noncoding RNA, we prevent HIV recurrence in T cells (immune cells) upon cessation of antiretroviral treatment, suggesting that we have a potential therapeutic target to eradicate HIV and Aids."

There are more than 100,000 Brits living with HIV in the UK – while an estimated 35 million are HIV positive across the world.

Thanks to modern medicine, and antiretroviral treatment, very few people in the UK go on to develop serious or late-stage HIV illnesses, that were prevalent in the late 80s and early 90s.

Early diagnosis and effective treatment mean people with HIV can now expect to live as long as the rest of the population.

The new findings are published in the journal mBio.

Dr Hilary Jones explains the latest scientific breakthrough in the fight against HIV and AIDS

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/news/10008045/hiv-cure-kill-switch-cells-reproducing/amp/

[Plastic.]

Some of you gorls are saved 

[RatherBe]

Hopefully he don't come up dead

[Opposites Attract.]

Only rich old white men will be able to afford and when it goes into production they'll dilute it so damn much that it'll end up like prep non effective. 

[Bentley. HARRIS!]

Some of you gorls are saved 

s

girl hush

you broke a heel rushing in here

[reekz]

I don't the government wants this because every time we get something like this  they never post or news it up

[BAPHOMET.]

Drais..... Your time just got extended

[Naomi Hit Me]

There will def' be a cure provided in our lifetime
Except it won't come from America, it'll be from Europe.

[CHOKE]

Wish they'd keep it tbh 

Let natural selection run its course

[Amazing]

I'm gonna go to a raw sex party tonight!

[reekz]

Wish they'd keep it tbh

Let natural selection run its course

[BAPHOMET.]

Wish they'd keep it tbh

Let natural selection run its course