Detects mechanisms that help cure HIV in the human brain

US scientists have discovered an "etching" gene of HIV inside the human brain that can help create a complete cure for this devastating disease.

The team at the University of Illinois (USA) has announced the discovery of a special gene called Tat , located right in the human brain, which could be a wonderful "warrior" to completely cure HIV disease.

Newly discovered gene leads to the hope of creating a complete cure for HIV - (photo: SHUTTERSTOCK).

This gene, if acted to escape hibernation and start fighting the HIV virus, will be able to attract viruses that are hiding in the human body.

It is these hidden viruses that cause modern HIV drugs to only help patients to cope with the disease, but cannot cure it. Because of this, drugs and the immune system can only hit active viruses and, after battles, hidden viruses continue to multiply and provide additional viruses in their new active state.

Therefore, HIV patients must take drugs for life to survive and avoid spreading them to others but they also suffer from many side effects.

But if affected by a gene such as Tat, hidden viruses can be exposed to light, switched to active state, and then killed once and by the immune system. Thus, the patient will be cured completely. Scientists call this method "shock and destroy".

Professor Jie Liang, the lead researcher, said the current drugs were not produced to target the Tat gene. That may be why they tried to test new therapies on HIV patients but have not achieved success.

However, they are completing a new research step on the activity of Tat gene and hope to soon succeed in creating a more effective way to awaken this natural mechanism, thereby giving a Complete regimen to cure HIV.

The study has just been published in the PNAS scientific journal.