Key notes:
Scientists have discovered a new way to combat HIV infection by making cells resistant to HIV. The antibodies that fight against HIV are tethered to immune cell receptors. They block the virus from gaining access to cell receptor and the spread of infection. Those cells without antibody protection dies and the protected cells pass on the protective gene to new cells.
The scientific study:
The research conducted at the Scripps research institute in San Diego, California initially tested their scientific findings against rhinovirus- that is responsible for many cases of common cold.
They used Lentivirus- as a vector to deliver a new gene to cultured human cells. The team then made cells produce antibodies that is required for the rhinovirus to gain access. With the antibodies monopolizing that site, the virus cannot enter the cell and spread infection.
Cells without antibody protection died, allowing the protected cells to survive and multiply thus, passing on the protective gene to new cells.
This technique is based on the fact that all strains of the virus needs to bind with a cell surface receptor called CD4. After introducing the cells to the virus, the researchers ended up with a HIV-resistant population. The antibodies recognized the CD4 binding site, blocking HIV from getting to the receptor.
Dr. Richard Lerner, Professor of immunochemistry at TSRI said that this is a form of ‘cellular Vaccination’. Researchers say that this new technique offers a significant advantage over current therapies where antibodies float freely in the blood stream at a very low concentration.
It is also known as the ‘Neighbor effect’- an antibody stuck nearby is more effective than free-floating soluble antibodies.
The final goal will be to curtail HIV in patients with AIDS without the requirement of other medications.
The annual number of new HIV diagnoses declined by 19% from 2005 to 2014, however the disease is still prevalent. More than 1.2 million people in the US are surviving with the virus and one in eight of them are unaware of it.
HIV could be treated but not curable. In addition to the collaboration, Dr. Xie said the next step would be trying to engineer antibodies to protect a different receptor on the cell surface.
Points to ponder:
Learning how to put antibodies into the right cells has to be studies further. HIV is notorious for producing large variations and some population of the virus will not bind to the antibody, thus it could kill of sensitive cells, but the virus would continue growing.
Antiretroviral drugs use a three-drug cocktail because of the virus’s many variations. Dr. Dieffenbach adds that the new findings have yet to be proven in terms of clinical trials.
These findings could further be implanted to make better tools like a cure or a vaccine.