Danish scientists have taken yet another small step in finding a cure for HIV.
A preliminary clinical experiment confirms a thesis of Danish scientists that a new medicine can activate the HIV-virus in people. This is a small breakthrough in finding the cure for HIV, said the University of Aarhus in a press release.
The results have just been presented at a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
When the HIV-virus enters the body it is encapsulated in immune cells where it hibernates. Medical treatment can so far block the production of the virus and the HIV but there is still no definitive cure for HIV.
A group of scientists at the University of Aarhus have now found a way to trace and fight the cells which the virus is hiding in, according to the press release.
During a test, a substance called panobinostat proved to activate the HIV-virus. That means that the immune system can trace and fight the cells inflicted with HIV.
In the treatment of 15 Danish patients, there has been a large increase of the HIV-virus in their blood. This means that the scientists have forced the HIV-cells out of hibernation which is essential in recognizing and fighting them.
The scientist emphasize that the results should not be over interpreted, but still calls the experiment groundbreaking.
”It is important to underline that we are not close to a cure against HIV, but we have taken another small step to get there. “
Source: jv.dk
