Major breakthrough in the fight against AIDS

Scientists at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne have found a way to make the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) visible in the body, paving the way for a cure.

The virus’s ability to hide within certain white blood cells (leukocytes) has become one of the main challenges for scientists. In addition, the virus’s constant mutations present an obstacle for developing a treatment, preventing the human immune system from recognising it as a threat.

According to scientists, further research will be needed to understand whether simply detecting the virus will be enough for the body’s immune system to deal with it, or if the technology will need to be combined with other treatments to completely eliminate HIV from a person’s body.

Nearly 40 million people around the world are currently living with HIV and must undergo lifelong treatment to suppress the virus and prevent the onset of symptoms or transmission. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, one person died from HIV every minute in 2023.

(MH with MaSi - Source: The Guardian – Photo: © Unsplash)