March 3, 2008

Gene that blocks HIV

Researchers at the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta has been working with gene technology and in fact in the process have found a gene which can actually block the HIV infection from advancing.

The gene that is called TRIM22 has been tested in a cell culture where it was seen to prevent the assembly of the virus, what this means in real terms is the fact that if it cannot do this, it would be unable to spread to other cells, in other words stopping the virus right there.

What they need to do now is find why this gene does not do this job in the people who have HIV and how this could be used in the fight against the disease. It is hoped that this could open up a new change of direction and eventually create a new way of helping the body defend against this illness which is claiming so many lives.

Source [Physorg]