Private MD News

Researchers discover mechanism by which HIV infections spreads

Category: HIV

A breakthrough discovery by a team of George Mason University researchers may lead to new medications to destroy the AIDS virus in infected individuals and potentially make positive HIV tests a thing of the past.

The team found that a particular enzyme plays a crucial role in the ability of the HIV virus to infiltrate healthy immune system cells and move throughout the body. This process is why the virus replicates so fast and is difficult to eradicate.

Furthermore, the investigation showed that it may be possible to inhibit this enzyme, which could completely derail the process the HIV virus uses to replicate and spread throughout the body. This opens the door to the development of new medications that could make it easier to kill the virus.

"These findings are certainly exciting, and are an emerging research field that we are proud to have established," said Yuntao Wu, who led the investigation.

He added that more research would be needed before any medications could be developed that take advantage of the findings. However, the results are promising.