USC Scientist Develops Virus That Targets HIV

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://uscnews.usc.edu/science_technology/usc_scientist_develops_virus_that_targets_hiv.html

USC Scientist Develops Virus That Targets HIV

By Robert Perkins on August 8, 2011 10:02 AM

In what represents an important step toward curing HIV, a USC scientist has created a virus that hunts down HIV-infected cells.

Pin Wang’s lentiviral vector latches onto HIV-infected cells, flagging them with what is called “suicide gene therapy” - allowing drugs to later target and destroy them.

“If you deplete all of the HIV-infected cells, you can at least partially solve the problem,” said Wang, chemical engineering professor at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

The process is analogous to the military practice of “buddy lasing” - that is, having a soldier on the ground illuminate a target with a laser to guide a precision bombing strike from an aircraft.

…

[CoffeeCat]

1. Sounds like a great idea that ends up...

...with Will Smith as one of the last survivors on Earth, running from mutant zombies.

I'm just sayin'.

[Poll_Blind]

4. LOL, you saved me the post.

PB

[trotsky]

2. Fascinating concept.

K&R for the potential progress against this terrible disease.

[xchrom]

3. I believe apoptosis works on a wide range of viruses.

This is the first I've heard of it working on HIV specifically.