The cure of HIV has been one of the most complex challenges in medical science. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system of body particularly CD4 cells (T-cells). These cells help the immune system to fight against the infection. If it is left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Since the identification of HIV, various treatments have been suggested including the antiretroviral drugs that can suppress the virus, before it develops into AIDS. Still around 40 million people live with this condition around the globe. Scientists are still putting their efforts to find cure of HIV.
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A microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, James Riley said that HIV is “like a time bomb” because if people do not take antiretroviral drugs, everyday as prescribed, the protection will stop, and HIV can infect again. He said that finding a cure of HIV is one of the greatest challenges for researchers in science. To address the seriousness of this disease he said,
“We’ll beat solid cancers [cancers with tumors] because we have a good handle on what the problem is and how to solve it. But with HIV, we haven’t got a solution to the problem yet”
Scott Kitchen from the University of California Los Angeles, who is expert in infectious diseases, declared antiretroviral HIV drugs as a Miracle of Modern Medicine. But also said that unfortunately, these drugs are still not a cure for infection.
Can We Finally Find a Cure of HIV?
HIV has long been one of the most challenging viruses since its discovery. The reason is not just its devastating impact on immune system but also due to its Hiding Ability. When the virus enters in human body, it integrates itself into human DNA, thus becoming part of the genetic material inside cells. While some cells remain active and produce new HIV copies, other cells become dormant. So, it becomes difficult to distinguish infected cells from healthy cells.
Antiretroviral drugs like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) can suppress the virus to undetectable levels, preventing it from spreading. However, the virus is not eliminated from the body and If the treatment stops, the virus reactivates itself thus restarting infection.
Have People been Cured of HIV?
In some rare cases, yes people are cured of HIV. So far, 7 people have been cured through stem cell transplants, this procedure eliminated HIV. Although this procedure is effective, it is not a practical solution for most people. Being risky and expensive, Bone Marrow transplants are performed, in advanced hospitals for patients with life-threatening cancer.
A New Hope: Stem Cell Therapy without Transplants
Researchers like Dr. Kitchen are now exploring different kinds of stem cell therapy that could provide a cure without the need of a donor. The idea is to modify blood stem cells so that, when they mature inside the body, they actively seek out and destroy HIV-infected cells.
This procedure is still in the early research stages. However, if it becomes successful, it could offer an accessible and safe way to cure HIV without any risk of traditional stem cell transplants.
T-Cell Therapies: Hunting HIV
T-Cells are immune cells that are responsible for detecting and killing infected cells. Normally, they struggle to find HIV because the virus hides so well.
In TCR therapy, special T-cells are designed that can recognize the hidden markers of HIV. These modified immune cells act like hunting dogs, they seek and destroy infected cells that could otherwise go unnoticed.
Currently, clinical trials are underway to test the effectiveness and safety of this therapy. So, it is too early to conclude if this method will lead to a complete cure of HIV. However, researchers believe it could play a major role in future treatments.
Conclusion
Finding a cure of HIV is the biggest challenge in modern medicine. But researchers like Dr. Riley pointed out that difficult goals can lead to pioneering discoveries. He said:
“Was going to the moon hard? Yes. But we got there. And we invented new technologies because of trying to get to the moon. That’s what I think curing HIV is like. Our efforts will spill over into how we cure other diseases”
Now, it seems that a world without HIV may not be as far as we once thought.