‘Overwhelmed’: Major breakthrough from Aussie researchers in HIV study

Australian researchers have found a way to force the HIV virus out of hiding within cells, opening the way to eradicate the virus from the body.

The human immunodeficiency virus is able to hide within white blood cells, presenting a serious roadblock for scientists pursuing a cure.

Research from Melbourne’s Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, published in late-May, says work towards a cure is one step closer.

The next hurdle is analysing whether revealing the virus allows the body’s immune system to fight off the virus or if additional treatments need to be combined.

“In terms of specifically the field of HIV cure, we have never seen anything close to as good as what we are seeing in terms of how well we are able to reveal this virus,” co-author Paula Cevaal told the Guardian.

“We were overwhelmed by how night-and-day difference it was – from not working before, and then all of a sudden it was working. And all of us were just sitting gasping like, ‘Wow’.”

The HIV that hides in white blood cells can reactivate.

The Peter Doherty Institute researchers used custom-made fat bubbles to deliver mRNA into cells where HIV is hiding. The mRNA tells the cells to reveal the virus.

Messenger RNA is a molecule that contains instructions for cells to make a protein. The technology rose to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

People with HIV have to take medication for their entire life to suppress the virus, avoid symptoms and to stop transmission to other people.

About 30,000 Australians live with HIV. In 2023, 722 new cases were reported to health authorities.

Globally, in 2023, an estimated 500,000 to 820,000 people died from HIV-related causes.