Scientists from Tel Aviv University found a new and unique treatment for AIDS which may be developed into a vaccine or a one-time treatment for patients with HIV.
The research is published in Nature Biotechnology and was conducted by Dr. Adi Barzel et al.
Over the last two decades, the lives of many AIDS patients have improved as a result of the administration of treatments that change the disease from lethal to chronic.
However, scientists still have a long way to go before a treatment is found that would provide the patients with a permanent cure.
One possible way to do it, with a one-time injection, was developed for the first time by the team.
The technique utilizes type B white blood cells that would be genetically engineered inside the patient’s body to secrete neutralizing antibodies against the HIV virus that causes the disease.
B cells are a type of white blood cells responsible for generating antibodies against viruses, bacteria and more. B cells are formed in bone marrow.
When they mature, B cells move into the blood and lymphatic system and from there to the different body parts.
The current study examined the engineering of type B white blood cells in the patient’s body so as to secrete anti-HIV antibodies in response to the virus.
All model animals who had been administered the treatment responded and had high quantities of the desired antibody in their blood.
The team produced the antibody from the blood and made sure it was actually effective in neutralizing the HIV virus in the lab dish.
Currently, the researchers explain, there is no genetic treatment for AIDS, so the research opportunities are vast.
This innovative treatment may defeat the virus with a one-time injection, with the potential of bringing about tremendous improvement in the patients’ condition.
Furthermore, if the virus changes, the B cells will also change accordingly in order to combat it, so the researchers have created the first medication ever that can evolve in the body and defeat viruses in the ‘arms race’.
Based on this study scientists can expect that over the coming years they will be able to produce in this way medication for AIDS, additional infectious diseases, and for certain types of cancer caused by a virus, such as cervical cancer, head and neck cancer and more.
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