Scientists make major breakthrough in HIV research by destroying ‘reservoir’ cells

Scientists make major breakthrough in HIV research by destroying ‘reservoir’ cells

French scientists appear to have made a giant leap in HIV research. In a press release, Paris’s Institut Pasteur announced that researchers have destroyed “reservoir” cells, i.e. infected immune cells. Their findings were published in the Cell Metabolism journal on December 20.

In the release, the scientists noted that current antiretroviral therapy can’t eliminate HIV from a patient’s body because the virus lurks in CD4 T lymphocytes, a type of immune cell that represents the “main target of HIV.” Specifically, the virus “primarily targets cells with high metabolic activity” and “hijacks the energy and products provided by the cell.”

So the scientists used metabolic activity inhibitors — similar to those already investigated in cancer research — to block the infection.

“We have observed ex vivo that, thanks to certain metabolic inhibitors, the virus is no longer able to infect cells, and amplification is halted in reservoirs of patients receiving antiretroviral treatment,” said study coordinator Asier Saez-Cirion.

Now that they’ve observed these results ex vivo — outside of the body — their next step is to assess the potential of the metabolic inhibitors in vivo — within the body.

The study was funded by the Institut Pasteur, AmfAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research) and the French HIV/AIDS nonprofit Sidaction.

Previous “I Have A Good Laugh Over These Things.” Denrele Edun claps back at trolls who call him “Gay” like it’s an insult
Next 360 Degrees (Part 3)

About author

You might also like

The Happenings 2 Comments

“My Body Is Strong But My Soul Is Stronger.” Jussie Smollett breaks silence following vicious attack

Jussie Smollett has issued his first public statement since it was reported that he was assaulted by two men in Chicago earlier this week. “Let me start by saying that

The Happenings 24 Comments

Gay rights groups laud new Catholic tone

Gay rights groups are cautiously cheering a shift in tone from the Catholic Church toward homosexuals, encouraged that Pope Francis’ famous “Who am I to judge?” position has filtered down

The Happenings 5 Comments

Singer Aveon claims affair with Wendy Williams’ husband Kevin Hunter, following reports Wendy is divorcing her husband

Singer Aveon Falstar, real name Aveon Williams, has gone public with an explosive secret, saying he carried on a sexual affair with Wendy Williams’ husband Kevin Hunter in 2018. Speaking

1 Comment

  1. Yazz
    December 27, 12:34 Reply

    Great!!
    This one that it will be destroying cells hope it won’t have crazy side effects like cancer medications…

Leave a Reply