Scientists may be one step closer to a cure for HIV: Injection prevents the virus spreading and could rid sufferers of the disease

  • Cows developed an immune response in as little as 35 days after HIV infection
  • One immune cell in particular binds to a site on HIV that the virus uses to spread
  • Researchers believe these cells could be incorporated into a vaccine for humans
  • HIV has no current cure and requires patients take aggressive medication 

By ALEXANDRA THOMPSON HEALTH REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Scientists may be one step closer to developing a cure for HIV, new research suggests.

An injection may soon be available that prevents the virus spreading and could rid sufferers of the infection, a study implies.

Researchers injected cows with HIV, all of which developed an immune response within as little as 35 days, a study found.

When the immune cells of the cows were analyzed, one in particular was found to bind to a key site on HIV that the virus uses to spread infection, the research adds.

The researchers believe such immune cells could be incorporated into an injection to neutralize HIV in infected humans.

Currently, there is no cure for HIV, with patients usually being required to take lifelong medication that causes nausea, diarrhea and insomnia.

Scientists may be one step closer to developing an HIV cure, new research suggests

Scientists may be one step closer to developing an HIV cure, new research suggests

CASES OF HIV AMONG GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN DROP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS 

A dramatic drop in the number of gay men with HIV could spell the end for Britain's AIDs epidemic, experts said last month.

Public Health England data has revealed that cases of HIV among gay and bisexual men have fallen for the first time since the epidemic began more than 30 years ago.

From October 2015 to September 2016, HIV diagnoses in five of London's biggest clinics dropped by 32 per cent in comparison with the previous year.

Experts said that a combination of more frequent HIV testing and faster treatment could explain the downturn in HIV cases among gay men.

And a rise in the number of gay men being offered pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug that can prevent those exposed to HIV from becoming infected, is also thought to have played a role. 

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Key findings 

Researchers from multiple institutions, including Texas A&M University, injected HIV into the side of four calves. 

Cows are not normally at risk of HIV, however, the researchers believe the animal's immune system has specific features that allows it to produce antibodies when exposed to the virus.

Lead author Devin Sok from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, said: 'HIV is a human virus but researchers can certainly learn from immune responses across the animal kingdom.'

Results revealed that all of the calves developed immune cells, known as antibodies, to HIV 35-to-50 days after receiving two injections. 

The researchers analyzed the antibodies and found that one in particular binds to a key site on HIV that the virus uses to infect cells.

Such antibodies could be incorporated into a vaccine to neutralize HIV in humans, according to the researchers.

It is unclear when such a vaccine could be available.  

The findings were published in the journal Nature.

HIV & AIDS

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