Facebook Pixel

The Role of Gene Therapy in HIV Treatment

 
Rate This

HIV is a sexually transmitted disease that stands for human immunodeficiency virus. The definition of a virus is an infectious agent that replicates itself inside the cells of living beings, which means that it has the ability to alter an individual’s genes.

Gene therapy is the insertion of genes into certain cells with the goal of combating or reversing hereditary or acquired diseases. The role of gene therapy in treating HIV is obviously a vital one, as HIV eventually leads to an incurable condition known as AIDS or autoimmune deficiency disorder. Scientists have been researching HIV gene therapy aggressively for years in order to cure what is quickly becoming a widespread American epidemic.

Fortunately, early March 2010 saw a critical breakthrough in terms of HIV research. Canadian and American researchers released a joint statement confirming that new drugs have been proven to combat HIV. The discovery of two new molecules (PD-1 and IL-10) and their role in aiding HIV-fighting cells (CD4/T-helper cells) has lead to the conclusion that blocking these toxic molecules can help restore immune response during infection.

“We believe that immunotherapies that target PD-1 and IL-10 should be part of the arsenal used to restore immune function in HIV-infected subjects,” says Rafick-Pierre Sekaly, lead author of the study. His statements provided inspiration for geneticists around the country looking for stable cures for the disease.

Regardless of how well-versed you are on current HIV treatment plans, this news has brought hope to the 32.9 million people worldwide who suffer from the condition. Those living in North America and Europe sometimes forget that nations like South Africa are currently being devastated by HIV, so the development of new gene therapies can mean life or death for these populations.

To reiterate what you already know, HIV can be spread in three ways: sexual contact, contact with blood, and mother-to-child transmission. The best way to prevent contracting HIV is to limit your number of sexual partners and to use a condom during penetration. Avoid sharing needles for tattoos or drug purposes and get tested for STDs regularly. Pregnant women are much less likely to pass STDs on to their children if they are being actively treated for the disease.

While scientists continue to make advancements in the field of gene therapy, as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Minimizing your risk of HIV infection is always a safe bet.

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Tags:

AIDS / HIV

Get Email Updates

AIDS / HIV Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!