There seems to be light at the end of tunnel for millions of HIV infected patients as scientists at the National Institute for Medical Research have found out that a single change to the human gene is needed to block HIV infection.
British researchers said the crucial difference was a gene found in rhesus monkeys that prevented HIV infection in them, however, the gene was absent in human beings.
Scientists had been aware that it was much more difficult to infect monkey cells with HIV than human cells in laboratory experiments, which suggested there was something different in the animal cells that blocked infection.
Later they found out that a gene called Trim 5 alpha was present in rhesus monkeys that stops the virus from replicating, but not in humans.
Dr Jonathan Stoye and his team studied differences in the gene products of the monkey and human Trim 5 alpha genes. They pinpointed one specific change in a protein that was important in blocking HIV. By substituting a human protein with a monkey-derived protein they found they could make the human cells resistant to HIV.
“In theory, it should be possible to take cells from an HIV-infected individual, make them resistant to HIV infection with the modified gene, and re-introduce them to the patient. These cells could then block progression to AIDS. Alternatively, we could seek drugs that activate the human gene against HIV,” Stoye said.
Researchers also found out that rhesus monkeys can be infected by a monkey form of HIV, SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus), but not by HIV itself.
Stoye, however, stressed that more laboratory research, followed by animal tests and human trials will be needed.
Meanwhile, 39.4 million people are living with HIV/Aids, according to the latest UN Aids figures.
