Scientists Have Successfully Destroyed HIV-Infected Cells

Scientists at the Institut Pasteur in Paris have successfully destroyed HIV-infected cells, which could be a significant step in more directly treating the virus.

According to New Now Next, these researchers “have identified the characteristics of CD4 T lymphocytes that are preferentially infected by the virus.”

Scientists succeed in destroying HIV-infected cells in major breakthrough

Researchers at the Institut Pasteur in Paris claim to have successfully destroyed HIV-infected ‘reservoir’ cells. HIV targets cells with high metabolic activity and ‘hija… https://t.co/Q2HKkQt9VH

— Healthy News Daily (@eHealthyDaily) December 24, 2018

“Thanks to metabolic activity inhibitors, the researchers have managed to destroy these infected cells, or ‘reservoirs,’ ex vivo,” the researchers explained. “The antiretroviral treatment used today is designed to block HIV infection, but it is not able to eliminate the virus from the body. The virus remains in reservoirs—the CD4 T lymphocyte immune cells, the main targets of HIV.”

This could be a step “towards possible remission through the elimination of reservoir cells” for people living with HIV. Apparently, “the next research phase will involve assessing the potential of these metabolic inhibitors in vivo.” This will involve testing on living organisms.

????????‼️???? Scientists succeed in destroying #HIV infected cells in breakthrough⁉️

????Researchers @ Paris Institut #Pasteur claim they have successfully destroyed cells infected with the virus which is typically treated with antiretroviral drugshttps://t.co/2P4FX9q4Ab via @MailOnline

— Miguel (@oya106) December 21, 2018

The hope with these tests is that if the viral load is low enough, getting rid of the cell that contains the HIV could stop the spread of the virus and maybe even eliminate it completely.

This is a huge step for HIV research, and an exciting sign for the progress towards a cure in 2019.