Humanised mouse allows HIV testing

Scientists are using a new 'humanised mouse' as an effective way of testing for new antiviral protection against HIV.

It is extremely difficult to conduct experiments to try to find solutions to HIV as the disease only infects humans and chimpanzees, which are not tested on.

However, a new type of mouse, which is a chimera, has been humanised to the extent that is has a human immune system so it can be infected with the virus.

This mouse method is being used by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern, who have already has a breakthrough in demonstrating how antiretroviral drugs may prevent vaginal transmission of HIV.

Dr J Victor Garcia-Martinez, who developed the humanised mouse, claims that the ideas behind the method could transfer to other areas of HIV research.

He is hoping to find new, novel approaches to preventing transmission of HIV, and the spread of the virus in both sexes.

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