Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem may have made a major breakthrough in the race against AIDS. A new treatment developed by scientists from the university’s Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences and the Institute of Chemistry have developed a new form of therapy  that destroys HIV-infected human cells without damaging healthy ones.

To date, no therapy has succeeded in completely destroying HIV-infected cells. Current treatments only delay the development of HIV to AIDS and make it more manageable for infected persons to live a normal and functional lifestyle. If current treatments are stopped being used, or if the virus develops immunity to the present day drugs now being administered, it can begin infecting new cells, making the race for a cure that much harder.

Dr. Abraham Loyter of HUJ explains that the treatment peptides, or segments of short proteins that the scientiest developed, interfere with the HI-virus' replication of its genetic material by transmitting a massive number of replications of the genetic material into the infected cell, triggering its self-destruction.

The study by Loyter, Prof. Assaf Friedler, Dr. Aviad Levin, and Dr. Zvi Hayouka, examined the effectiveness of the new treatment on the HIV-1 virus which is the predominant cause of AIDS in developing nations.

In total, around 33.4 million people around the world suffer from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which causes AIDS. Of which, more than 30 million live in low and middle income countries such as Israel and South Africa according to the World Health Organization.

The study which was performed on human cell cultures showed the HIV infected human cells completely disappearing within two weeks and did not reappear until two weeks later.

The treatment which was patented earlier this year has yet to have been tested on humans and animals. Yissum, the HU technology transfer body is now seeking a commercial partner to continue developing the treatment through animal and clinical trials.

This miraculous breakthrough which gives infected persons hope that a cure is near joins other new therapies being developed to fight AIDS. Other annovations including the US-funded study in Thailand for an AIDS vaccination, as well as a vaginal gel developed in South Africa that prevents the replication of the virus and reduces the risk of infection by 54%, are fast giving hope for an HIV-free generation.

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