American Scientists Create HIV Resistant Stem Cells To Counter AIDS
July 5th, 2010 - 7:16 pm ICT by GDBy Gina Gomez
Paris, July 5, (THAINDIAN NEWS) American scientists have been successful in creating HIV resistant cells which might play a significant role in the future in utilizing gene therapy to control the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The findings of the study which was undertaken by scientists of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, was published in the journal Nature Biotechnology on Friday.
In order to carry out the experiment, the scientists took immature haematopoietic cells from mice and modified the stem blood cells by using a specific enzyme which made them resistant to HIV. These stem cells were then re-injected in the mice and after weeks of exposure to HIV, these rodents were found to be much more resistant to the virus in comparison to the control mice. The findings of the study is being considered to be immensely significant by the experts as if the technique is found to be safe and effective in case of humans, it paves the way to establish a longterm generation of T-cells in the human body which would be resistant to HIV infection. This basically translates into the fact that if the theory is effective in humans then HIV can be suppressed in patients without using strong antiretroviral drugs.
While talking about the ramifications that the research might include, Paula Cannon who was the lead author of the study revealed that it would be a ‘one-shot treatment if it works.’ However, the scientist noted that one of the major challenges before them now was to make the method applicable even in humans.
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