HIV leaves hiding and finds a way to make it vulnerable

2014/06/09 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Farmakologia
• Mikrobiologia
• Medikuntza

AIDS viruses, HIV, are sometimes hidden within infected cells. When this happens, medicines cannot reach them and therefore do not affect them. This is one of the main barriers to AIDS treatment in some patients. Now, scientists at the Gladstone Institute have found a way to activate them and submit them to drugs.

The research has been published in the journal Science. It has been explained that the key is in the moderate change of gene expression of the virus. A small change must be made. 1,600 compounds have been tested and 85 have been selected. Combined with each other they have identified the most effective mixture.

According to researchers, this combination of compounds is capable of activating the hidden virus, thus losing immunity to antiretroviral drugs.