HIV infections have seen a drastic increase in several countries like South Africa, where the epidemic is out of control. However, a new study reveals that a combination of three antibody drugs is effective in suppressing the HIV virus.
Researchers from the Rockefeller University published their findings in the journal Science Translational Medicine. They revealed that when the antibody combination is administered in the HIV patient, the virus eventually dies despite its ability to mutate and becoming hard to eliminate.
Antiretroviral drug treatments have been essential in suppressing the HIV virus from developing into AIDS. Without these types of treatments, the body of the infected patient tends to eventually lose the power to control the virus.
Other promising HIV treatments resulted mostly in failure due to the fact that the virus mutates and escapes the grasp of the immune system. However, the new antibody combination treatment claims to actually trap the virus for good.
For their study, the researchers administered HIV-infected mice a combination of three antibodies. They discovered that the treatment leads to the complete suppression of the HIV virus in the respective mice. The study was performed at the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology at The Rockefeller University.
The researchers developed the antibody combination treatment by administering BG18, BG1, and NC37 antibodies to the mice. The combined drug attaches itself to a part of the virus and each antibody supports the other in the endeavor to shut down the HIV virus.
According to the scientists, some HIV-infected people produce the three antibodies, but eventually, the virus manages to escape thanks to its mutation. The researchers then compared the association between the antibodies and the virus. The newly developed antibody combination determines the virus to mutate and escape but after several such attempts, the virus runs out of options and it is eventually shut down.
For their study, the researchers used the blood serum of a man who contracted HIV 30 years ago, to create the antibodies used in their experiment.
What do you think about this new antibody combination treatment? Do you know anyone infected with HIV? What treatments do they undergo to suppress the virus?
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