NIH scientists find antibodies that block most HIV
By Wallace Witkowski
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have found two antibodies that can stop more than 90% of the known virus strains that cause AIDS, the National Institutes of Health said Thursday. “The discovery of these exceptionally broadly neutralizing antibodies to HIV and the structural analysis that explains how they work are exciting advances that will accelerate our efforts to find a preventive HIV vaccine for global use,” said NIAID director Anthony Fauci in a statement. The naturally occurring antibodies, called VRC01 and VRC02, neutralize more HIV strains than any other known antibodies, the NIH said.
After Long Scientific Search, Still No Cure for AIDS
Despite decades of effort, no magic bullet for AIDS has been invented.
The obstacles are huge. The virus mutates as fast in a day as a flu virus does in a year, but can also lie dormant indefinitely.
Since no one has ever been cured, there is no natural defense to mimic. And, since it attacks the CD4 cells that are the “fire alarms” of the immune system, vaccines that stimulate immunity may just give it more targets.
Even in wealthy countries, it can only be controlled; antiretroviral cocktails keep it from replicating. Patients are not cured, but may survive into old age.
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