New technique makes cells resistant to HIV

Scientists have found a way to create an HIV-resistant cell population that can quickly replace infected cells, a breakthrough that may potentially help cure the disease.

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in the US tethered HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, creating a cell population resistant to the virus. “This protection would be long term,” said Jia Xie from TSRI. The technique offers a significant advantage over therapies where antibodies float freely in the bloodstream at a relatively low concentration.

Instead, antibodies in the new technique hang on to a cell’s surface, blocking HIV from accessing a crucial cell receptor and spreading infection. (PTI)