Potential AIDS Cure Discovered (Video)

Don't get excited just yet, but another possible cure for AIDs has been found. This time, though, scientists are using a new weapon to combat HIV: the virus itself. David Harrich from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research has determined how to modify a key protein in the virus, creating the so-called "Nullbasic" protein. This disables the virus' capability to replicate.

Although the findings were first reported on Tuesday, a new video has been released to further explain Harrich's findings (see below). Harrich and his team took a normal virus protein that the virus needs to grow and then changed it so that instead of assisting the virus, it impedes virus replication. However, the scientists admit that the modified protein treatment has only seen success in laboratory trials and that they have yet to use animal or human subjects.

HIV and AIDS awareness has grown globally, but more than 300,000 patients were diagnosed with HIV last year in Australia alone. It's an increasing issue that demands the focus of top researchers--Harrich himself has donated 20 years of his complete, undivided attention. It was only in 2007, though, that Harrich finally made his breakthrough. A student of his was testing one of his theories about the Nullbasic protein when he reported back that it worked. Harrich had the student test it several more times--with the treatment working every single time.

According to the team, animal testing will begin sometime next year. It will probably take as long as a decade before it finally receives FDA approval.