Scientists target HIV mutation

A team of researchers from Canada and the US have identified a potential new way of combating the HIV virus, using genetic material from the remains of ancient virus that has inserted itself into every human cell over the course of human evolution.

Scientists believe that a vaccine which targets the 'fossilized DNA' of these old viruses, called human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), would also be effective in tackling the HIF virus, which is constantly mutating.

They found that HIV appears to reactivate the HERVs by disturbing the processes that usually keep them under control. However, the study also revealed that in some HIV-positive subjects, infection-fighting T cells were able to target HERV-enabled cells

Dr Keith Garrison, co-author of the study, said: "One important limitation to a T-cell vaccine targeting HIV itself is that HIV exists in so many variations and is constantly mutating. If we can find other ways for the immune system to target HIV-infected cells, we can overcome this problem in making an HIV vaccine. HERV may provide us with a good target to test."

The team said that HERV specific T-cells had more features in common with those that kill cytomegalovirus, something that the immune system generally controls for life, than those that target HIV, which is poorly contained.

It is hoped that lessons can be learned from the HERV specific T-cells which could be applied to those that help fight the HIV infection.

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