Hope for HIV cure through bone marrow transplant

It is becoming increasingly evident that the wait for chemotherapeutic cure or effective vaccine for HIV infection will remain long, given that previous pronouncements of breakthroughs , unfortunately, have failed to completely fill the void in the expectant public.

It is, however, not surprising that it has taken this while to reach this far, short of a cure or a vaccine. HIV has its specificities which have made the road to be this long, very long indeed, ever since HIV was associated with AIDS.

Another glimmer of hope is now coming from the results of a bone marrow transplant. It has recently been reported that an HIV patient had a bone marrow transplant from a donor whose T lymphocytes had no receptor for the attachment of HIV. The donor's bone marrow took over from the host's and started manufacturing T lymphocytes that were not receptive to HIV. Following this procedure, tests are showing that the recipient no longer harbors HIV.

These results are opening up another research channel in the quest for an HIV cure.

Dr. Oliver Verbe Birnso

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