This New Study Aimed To Uncover How An Elite Group Of HIV Patients Are Biologically “Curing” Themselves Of The Virus

According to the CDC, nearly 1.1 million people have HIV in the United States alone. And, around the world, over 32 million people have passed away from AIDS-related illnesses.

While HIV has been historically difficult to treat, there is a new population of people that scientists are dubbing “elite controllers.”

These people, who have been diagnosed with HIV, are actually able to fight off the virus without the use of any antiretroviral medicines.

HIV, also known as the human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the immune system. Two to four weeks after infection, people may experience symptoms such as fever, night sweats, muscle aches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and more.

And, after exposure to the virus, there are three stages of infection– acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (also known as AIDS).

Despite HIV affecting millions of people across the globe, there is still no official cure.

But, scientists have identified a special group of people whose unique biological makeup is doing what was previously thought to be impossible– curing themselves of HIV.

While most HIV patients must take antiretroviral drugs for the rest of their life, this unbelievable group of people can single-handedly keep the virus in check for extended periods of time without any medication.

Two female patients were first spotlighted in the media for their amazing ability to eradicate HIV. They were credited using code names– one was known as “the San Francisco Patient,” and the other went by “the Esperanza Patient.”

Siam – stock.adobe.com

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More recently, though, the Ragon Institute in Boston has begun new research into a slightly larger group– fifty-eight– of these “elite controllers.” Researchers compared these controllers with forty-two HIV patients who are currently on antiretroviral medications.

And, they believe they found a new window into understanding how the elite controllers handle the virus.

First, the researchers are finding out more about their body’s strong immune response to the virus. Second, the researchers are also learning more about where the virus’s genetic sequence is located in the controllers’ genome.

The virus’s sequences are located in a remote region, where replication is much less likely. Instead, the virus is more likely to be sought out and dominated by a robust immune response in this location.

Dr. Xiaodong Lian, the lead author of this study, believes this research is groundbreaking in the fight against HIV.

Lian said, “Increasing evidence suggests that durable drug-free control of HIV-1 replication is possible by effective cellular immune responses.”

In other words, the viruses do not stand a chance against the immune systems of elite controllers.

These concrete findings are helping to dismantle the phenomenon of “elite controllers” while also laying the groundwork for a possible “sterilizing cure” for patients who cannot do it independently.

While this concept is very promising, the researchers acknowledge that much more research still lies ahead.

To read the complete study, visit the link here.

Katharina Buczek graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Digital Arts. Specializing ... More about Katharina Buczek

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