Scientists "Disarm" the AIDS Virus

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University recently revealed that they have figured out a way to "disarm" the AIDS virus by a process in which they eliminate the cell's membranes, and effectively stop it from hijacking the victim's immune system. This news came as a breakthrough in the health industry and could prove to be life-saving for many patients suffering from HIV and AIDS.

The research results were published last week in the medical journal Blood. They indicated that the treatment method could possibly lead a vaccine against the virus. Currently, about 33.3 million people had HIV or AIDS by the end of the year 2009.

Scientists explained their new method and how it works - it eliminates a membrane of cholesterol used by HIV to disguise itself, and disarm the immune system. It steals the cholesterol from the first immune response to its intrusion, then uses it to communicate with the rest of the immune system.

Once the AIDS virus is stripped of the crucial cholesterol membrane, it is attacked by the immune system and shut down.

According to David Graham, a molecular biologist at Johns Hopkins University, It isn't clear if the technique would work inside a human test subject. More testing would be needed to conclude its effectiveness. However, he believes that science has finally "broken the code". He told Voice of America News, "By stealing cholesterol from the envelope of the virus, we can neutralize the subversion. We've broken the code; we can shut down the type of interference that HIV is having on the immune system".

This news will likely come as a source of hope for those currently suffering from HIV or AIDS. Currently, AIDS accounts for approximately 1.8 million deaths around the world each year.

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