Welsh scientists develop bionic HIV assassins nov9th

Antaletriangle · 11-09-2008, 08:51 PM

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...1466-22216090/
WELSH scientists have developed cutting-edge “bionic assassins” to seek out and destroy the HIV virus.

A team from Cardiff University has discovered a way to genetically engineer the body’s own immune cells in a breakthrough which could revolutionise the treatment of HIV.

Experts at the university also hope that the breakthrough could be applied to cancer by finding a way of using the body’s own immune cells to attack invading cancer cells and tumours.

The team’s genetically-engineered killer T-cells are able to identify and destroy HIV even when the virus mutates in a bid to avoid detection.

It is thought that the breakthrough could lead to the development of more effective treatments for HIV and could even slow down – or prevent – the onset of Aids.

The researchers are now waiting for final approvals to test the discovery in a series of clinical trails in the US.

The search for a cure or a vaccine for HIV, which has infected 33 million people worldwide, has been hampered by the virus’ ability to mutate once inside the body.

When viruses enter our bodies, they hijack host cells in order to replicate and spread infection.

Small parts of the virus usually become exposed on the surface of the cell, creating a “molecular fingerprint” for killer T-cells from the immune system to identify and destroy them.

But HIV can disguise its fingerprints, allowing it to hide from these killer cells, ensuring that the immune system is unable to rid the body of HIV.

Professor Andy Sewell, who co-led the research between Cardiff University, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine and Adaptimmune (corr)Ltd UK , said: “When the body mounts a new killer T-cell response to HIV, the virus can alter the molecular fingerprint that these cells are searching for in just a few days.

cont.on link above.

11-09-2008, 08:51 PM	#1
Antaletriangle Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.K. Posts: 3,380	Welsh scientists develop bionic HIV assassins nov9th http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...1466-22216090/ WELSH scientists have developed cutting-edge “bionic assassins” to seek out and destroy the HIV virus. A team from Cardiff University has discovered a way to genetically engineer the body’s own immune cells in a breakthrough which could revolutionise the treatment of HIV. Experts at the university also hope that the breakthrough could be applied to cancer by finding a way of using the body’s own immune cells to attack invading cancer cells and tumours. The team’s genetically-engineered killer T-cells are able to identify and destroy HIV even when the virus mutates in a bid to avoid detection. It is thought that the breakthrough could lead to the development of more effective treatments for HIV and could even slow down – or prevent – the onset of Aids. The researchers are now waiting for final approvals to test the discovery in a series of clinical trails in the US. The search for a cure or a vaccine for HIV, which has infected 33 million people worldwide, has been hampered by the virus’ ability to mutate once inside the body. When viruses enter our bodies, they hijack host cells in order to replicate and spread infection. Small parts of the virus usually become exposed on the surface of the cell, creating a “molecular fingerprint” for killer T-cells from the immune system to identify and destroy them. But HIV can disguise its fingerprints, allowing it to hide from these killer cells, ensuring that the immune system is unable to rid the body of HIV. Professor Andy Sewell, who co-led the research between Cardiff University, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine and Adaptimmune (corr)Ltd UK , said: “When the body mounts a new killer T-cell response to HIV, the virus can alter the molecular fingerprint that these cells are searching for in just a few days. cont.on link above.