HIV could be treated with single jab

A new study has found a treatment for Aids which could be developed into a vaccine or one-time treatment for HIV patients.

The study at Tel Aviv University used genetically-engineered type B white blood cells to help produce anti-HIV antibodies in response to the virus.

It was led by Dr. Adi Barzel and PhD student Alessio Nehmad from the university’s school of neurobiology, biochemistry and biophysics and was supported by researchers from both Israel and the US.

HIV is a virus which damages the cells in our immune systems which fight off illness and disease and it can later cause Aids. While drug treatments help patients live long and healthy lives, there is currently no cure for the virus.

This new research helped develop a technique that uses type B white blood cells that are genetically engineered inside a patient’s body to produce antibodies against HIV.

These cells are responsible for the generation of antibodies against various viruses, bacteria and illnesses and are first formed in the bone marrow, then move into the blood and lymphatic system.

The study’s lead researcher, Dr Barzel, said: “Until now, only a few scientists - and we among them - had been able to engineer B cells outside of the body and in this study, we were the first to do this in the body and to make these cells generate desired antibodies.”

“The genetic engineering is done with viral carriers derived from viruses that were engineered so as not to cause damage but only to bring the gene coded for the antibody into the B cells in the body,” he continued.

“Additionally, in this case, we have been able to accurately introduce the antibodies into a desired site in the B cell genome… We produced the antibody from the blood and made sure it was actually effective in neutralizing the HIV virus in the lab dish.”

The technique was made using a technology called CRISPR, which is based on a bacterial immune system against viruses and is used to edit genes.

On the use of CRISPR, Nehmad said: “We incorporate the capability of a CRISPR to direct the introduction of genes into desired sites along with the capabilities of viral carriers to bring desired genes to desired cells. Thus, we are able to engineer the B cells inside the patient’s body.

“When the CRISPR cuts in the desired site in the genome of the B cells,” he continued, “it directs the introduction of the desired gene: the gene coding for the antibody against the HIV virus, which causes AIDS.”

The study was published in the science journal, Nature, and according to Dr Barzel, researchers expect that the method could be used to produce medication for Aids and certain types of cancer including cervical, neck and head cancer.