US scientists develop a method to destroy the latent HIV virus in cells

According to a (reviewed) study published in the journal Nature Communications on January 10, scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA, have discovered a type of method New treatment helps to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), thereby raising hopes for a cure for HIV-infected patients.

Specifically, scientists from UCLA have developed from a method conducted in 2017 to remove and destroy the latent HIV virus in human cells. Jocelyn Kim, lead author of the study, said the findings indicate that it is possible to clear HIV from the body, which has not been possible before. 'This study opens up a new model of the potential for a cure for HIV in the future,' the author shared.

In a method developed in 2017, they used a special synthetic compound to activate the inactivated HIV virus in mice whose immune systems were modified to resemble those of humans. In implementing this method, the scientists combined with antiretroviral drugs commonly used to destroy the active HIV virus. The results showed that this method eliminated about 25% of the HIV viral load in the mice in 24 hours.

In the new study, UCLA scientists added 'healthy natural killer cells', like those produced in a healthy person, to clear the activated HIV virus in mice. . The results completely eliminated the virus in 40% of the mice studied. Currently, the team is working to bring this rate to 100% and move to the stage of human testing. 'We will move into preclinical studies in non-human primates with the ultimate goal of testing the same approach in humans,' said lead researcher Jocelyn Kim.

These encouraging results are giving hope to millions of people living with HIV that scientists can find a cure for them before they progress to the stage of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). ).

According to statistics, HIV has claimed the lives of about 35 million people within 40 years since it first appeared. An estimated 1.1 million Americans are currently living with HIV.