HIV Engineered Antibody Treatment Great For Cancer Patients, Too

HIV patients undergoing immunotherapy have shown positive reaction to treatments, which can be applied for cancer patients. A study conducted involving HIV treatment focused on killing HIV cells with the use of artificial receptors.

The HIV research focused on T-cell receptors that are artificially engineered with new generation antibodies that kills infected HIV cells. Researchers used seven newly discovered antibodies that have neutralizing properties. These antibodies can bind to many different strains of viruses.

When HIV cells come in contact with a CAR cells, it causes destruction of the infected cell. CAR cells are specifically engineered to be surface receptors that are designed to specifically kill tumor or HIV virus proteins. CARs are immune T cells created artificially.

HIV research using receptors to kill infected cells proved unsuccessful for the last 15 years; hence, was dropped. Previously, receptors were not based on antibodies and reportedly, this is what hindered them from being ineffective against HIV.

HIV viruses can replicate quickly and are difficult to fight off naturally since it takes a huge amount of energy to eradicate them. Also, they tend to hide in T cells. Dr. Otto Yang, author of the study and medical professor at UCLA's School of Medicine, worked at the AIDS Institute and Center for AIDS Research directing research of HIV pathogenesis and vaccines, Science Daily reported.

Meanwhile, the newly re-engineered CAR-T cell receptors are capable of attack numerous HIV strains. The seven antibodies direct the T cells to eliminate the viral replication process. However, this research has only been done on test tubes. The HIV research's next step is to perform research on HIV infected individuals since the study has shown positive results so far, Reddit reported.

The HIV is a known virus that may lead to AIDS when left untreated. Scientists have discovered antibodies that have the potential to help generate chimeric antigen receptor cells or CARs. Dr. Yang said that the research in gene immunotherapy using chimeric receptors to fight cancer is under study. UCLA is the first research facility that puts together the study for an HIV strategy.