Secret discovery of natural HIV-resistant cells

Scientists on June 10 reported finding an answer to the question of why a small number of people infected with HIV have a natural ability to fight deadly AIDS, thereby opening the prospect of manufacturing. vaccine.

In their study, scientists from four countries from the US, Canada, Japan and Germany claimed the secret was not the number of cells that removed the infection in the patient's body, but performance of these cells.

According to previous research, only about 1 in 300 people have the ability to control HIV virus without taking medication, thanks to a special cell called cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL).

HIV virus

Further research on the discovery, scientists believe that the type of CTL cells have molecules called receptors that are better able to detect white blood cells infected with HIV to attack. public.

Speaking to AFP, Bruce Walker, an infectious disease specialist at the Ragon Institute in Massachusetts, USA, said that until now, we all know that people with HIV: "there are countless special cells. After a great deal of research to find out why with so many special cells, people still turn to the AIDS phase, which turns out to be due to a characteristic that causes some cells to become should be more effective in eliminating infection ".

The study tested 10 infected people, of which five used drugs to control HIV while the other five managed the disease on their own and remained naturally healthy.

Through research, Walker said the researchers found that the way specific cells can detect infected cells and attack them is completely different from what happens in normal people. What patients need is not a special cell but a special cell with a receptor (T cell) that is particularly effective in determining infected cells.

Until now, attempts to make vaccines have failed because the T-cell receptors created are not the most effective. However, although research shows scientists how to detect and statistics effective cells, they still don't know how to create them.