"Shock & kill" approach cures mice of HIV in world first

Credit: scottcamazine.com

One of the difficulties involved with treating AIDS is that the HIV virus, which causes the disease, is able to "hide" from treatment.

A new approach uses a combination of drugs, one of which provides a boost to the immune system, & others which flush the HIV virus from its hiding places. When flushed from their hiding places, the virus particles can be killed by the boosted immune system. Only tested in mice so far, but looks promising.

http://theconversation.com/shock-and-kill-approach-cures-mice-of-hiv-in-world-first-30528?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+18+August+2014+-+1858&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+18+August+2014+-+1858+CID_aabdaa5afc096b963dea579ebc7e8744&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Shock%20and%20kill%20approach%20cures%20mice%20of%20HIV%20in%20world%20first / combination of four drugs flush out HIV-infected HIV infected cells hidden reservoirs kill them boost to the immune system research published journal Cell scientists HIV cure research mouse mice infectious diseases unit The Alfred Hospital Professor Sharon Lewin significant step HIV cure research infected HIV virus hiding DNA immune system HIV latency patients anti-HIV drugs latent virus can persist indefinitely shock-and-kill research induced hidden latent viruses resurface using combination three drugs principle combination of drugs activate latent virus antibodies induce remission slightly artificial HIV-infected mouse model idea exploring test tube models HIV latency clinical trials clinical trials drugs treating cancer wake up latent virus infected cell wasn’t killed kill the cells researchers boosted mice’s immune systems using powerful antibodies broadly neutralising antibodies HIV-infected mice combination activating drugs antibodies keep the virus under control Scientia Professor of Medicine David Cooper, director of the Kirby Institute University of New South Wales NSW UNSW research represented important model difficult extrapolate results humans antiretroviral therapies within a day or two of infection low- and middle-income countries identified identify identification opportunistic infection tuberculosis amount of latent virus toxicity drug combination kick and kill flush and kill strategy /