A breakthrough in the fight against HIV: new antibody blocks 98% of all known strains of the virus

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Employees of The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced a breakthrough in the issue of the fight against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Experts say that the issue of open universal combat the virus antibody capable of blocking 98% of all known strains of the virus. The statement was posted on the official website of the Institute.

An antibody that was named N6, to effectively neutralize the virus in a relatively short time. 

"Fighting the virus - not an easy task, because HIV quickly changes the protein shell to protect against counter the immune system," - said in a press release.

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The antibody in question was originally found in a sample of blood of HIV-infected patient. Now proved N6 potential to neutralize 98% of HIV strains, including 16 out of 20 strains originally resistant to the same type of antibodies. According to experts, the discovery suggests the possibility of developing a universal means of HIV and prevention of the virus.

The researchers say that they have worked with quite effective antibodies, but N6 - the most effective defender of the human immune system by HIV. In 2010, for example, VRC01 antibody was discovered. Its scientists have found one of the units of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. As it turned out, VRC01 blocks about 90% of all strains of HIV, preventing infection of human cells. 90% - an excellent result, but 98% - much better, as they say the study authors.

"Like VRC01, N6 block virus binding of the viral envelope, bearing the name of CD4, which makes it impossible for the virus to attach to cells protected", - experts explain.

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The new discovery makes it possible to not only treat already infected patients, but also to develop preventive drugs. Scientists are now engaged in the study of the principle of N6 work. The research results will be used to create new drugs and find more effective antibodies. Specialists of the Institute have managed to trace the evolution of the N6, getting a general idea of ​​how the defense mechanism and how the antibody has been able to neutralize 98% of the HIV-virus. After completion of the study, researchers will be engaged in the creation of an effective vaccine. In general, the N6 changes that led to a radical improvement of antibody protection functions - the subject of study for scientists all over the world.

"Overall, our research shows that N6 does not focus on the impact of a rapidly changing area of the surface of HIV, known as the V5, and on the other, the more stable parts of the viral envelope. This allows the V6 to make minor changes in the viral envelope, including attachment of sugar molecules to the area V5 », - said in a press release.

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And in this, in turn, dramatically reduces the ability of the virus to attach to the cells of an infected organism and to reproduce. If the effectiveness of the antibody will be confirmed by other scientists, followed by the development of new vaccines, as mentioned above, followed by clinical trials.

"Through the power of its influence, the N6 suggests a much more effective treatment, with a positive effect for a long time. Researchers will be able to administer the vaccine under the skin rather than using the intravenous method of inputting antibodies. In addition, the possibility of antibodies suggest the development of a new strategy for prevention and control of HIV ", - stated in the appeal of scientists.

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This month, experts from Imperial College London and the company's DNA Electronics reported on the development of a portable device that can detect the presence and concentration of HIV virus in a small volume blood sample (usually one drop).

Representatives of device development team say that the work with the device can be in any place and any time. And the result of the analysis comes just a half-hour analysis. Moreover, the device is capable of determining the concentration of HIV and in the blood, not only to determine whether the infection.

 Source: Imperial College London 

Rapid detection of HIV can effectively apply modern methods of treatment of a retrovirus. The methods used by doctors today, far removed from the methods developed initially. Thus, during the life of the patient's anti-retroviral therapy duration is 70-80 years. In fact, early detection and appropriate treatment enable HIV-positive people to live as much as people live without the virus in the blood.

Incidentally, the HIV epidemic did not begin with the "zero patient" Gaëtan Dugas . In fact, the patient zero was someone who lived in the time interval 1963-1970 gg. The probability of this is 95%. And, most likely, the HIV epidemic in the United States came from the Caribbean.

Referenced Materials:

1. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/nih-scientists-identify-potent-antibody-neutralizes-nearly-all-hiv-strains
2. https://steemit.com/science/@redalex/a-device-the-size-of-a-flash-card-can-detect-hiv-in-just-half-an-hour
3. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v539/n7627/full/nature19827.html
4. https://steemit.com/science/@whitemike313/index-patient-with-hiv-probably-arrived-in-new-york-from-haiti-in-1971