A cure for HIV could be a step closer after researchers found a new way to force the virus out of hiding inside human cells.

The virus’s ability to conceal itself inside certain white blood cells has been one of the main challenges for scientists looking for a cure. It means there is a reservoir of the HIV in the body, capable of reactivation, that neither the immune system nor drugs can tackle.

Now researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, have demonstrated a way to make the virus visible, paving the way to fully clear it from the body.

It is based on mRNA technology, which came to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic when it was used in vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech.

In a paper published in Nature Communications, the researchers have shown for the first time that mRNA can be delivered into the cells where HIV is hiding, by encasing it in a tiny, specially formulated fat bubble. The mRNA then instructs the cells to reveal the virus.

  • HubertManne@piefed.social
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    2 days ago

    I sorta hate articles like this because I know if will fuel the maga/qanon/dumbshit crowd to be even more against mRNA based things. We need more articles on its use in cancer although what am I saying. Im sure they likely have some dumbass reasoning around cancer as well.

    • Nikkii@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      The end-times death cult doesn’t want any medical breakthroughs at all. But fuck em. Everywhere without these freaks should keep up the good research unabashed.