Scientists Cure HIV In Live Animals For The First Time

We’re getting closer and closer to an HIV-free future.
http://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/mole … S1525-0016(17)30110-7

A “promising cure” for HIV has been discovered by researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University after they successfully eliminated almost all of the disease from infected human tissue in mice.

In an article published in the journal Molecular Therapy, the scientists explain how they were able to remove HIV from a mice given human immune cells by using a gene-editing technique called Crispr.

After the scientists introduced the gene-editing protein to the mice, “successful proviral excision was detected … in the spleen, lungs, heart, colon, and brain.” This is the first time that this has been accomplished in a live animal.

What now lies ahead for the scientists is to test this same method on primates. Once that proves successful as well, human trials will then follow. The researchers also admit to encountering difficulty when it comes to effectively delivering the gene treatment into live animals, something that needs to be improved on in further tests.

While today’s retroviral cocktails have stemmed the onslaught of HIV-AIDS, it does not actually cure the disease. They only prevent the virus from replicating inside the body and becoming AIDS. There is still HIV in the person’s cells. If a person with HIV were to stop treatment, the virus will replicate once more and become a full-blown disease.

If successful, the new treatment removes the virus almost entirely, with it having no chance of returning should the person with HIV decide to stop taking the current cocktail of retroviral medication.

This is certainly good news! What do you guys think about these developments in finding a cure for HIV? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
By Mikey22456 | 05/10/2017 05:16 PM | 3 comments
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  • Really happy to read this story. My initial reaction was to be cautious as there have been too many alleged cures being promoted over the years. But it seems that the gene therapy technology may finally be implemented and when I see it is coming out of Temple University medical lab, it is a very bright message for sure. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
    headgiver 05/12/2017 04:44 PM
  • This of course is one significant step forward in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS. There are many hopeful studies in process and with continued experimentation and testing we will get closer and eventually come up with a way of prevention, treatment and cure. Each study brings us closer but it is still a long hard fight for complete success. We should applaud and be appreciative of each step but not be lead into believing that the solution is right around the corner. Research still needs all of our support both financially and politically. We should not be lulled to believe that there is a cure and succumb to apathy about the disease that is still affecting so many peoples lives.
    But you are right this is certainly good news...
    buzbuz 05/11/2017 07:36 AM
  • I was unable to open the link given above, but did find this: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170 … 112514.htm

    "If successful, the new treatment removes the virus almost entirely, with it having no chance of returning should the person with HIV decide to stop taking the current cocktail of retroviral medication." 'If successful' is the cautious way to think about these treatment models. Using the crispr method, stopping the viral replication had a 96% success rate, which is amazing, but still only 96% and yet to be tried in primates, and, from reading, years until tests are done with humans.

    All the same, interesting science and a unique approach to arresting the virus.
    furball 05/10/2017 06:19 PM