A single injection administered shortly after birth might provide children with multi-year protection against HIV. This promising development comes from US scientists, whose findings were recently published in the journal Nature. Their study demonstrates that if gene therapy is given to a newborn within the first few weeks of life, the infant`s body `accepts` the treatment as its own, allowing cells to produce anti-HIV antibodies for many years without the need for repeat doses.
This innovative method has already undergone trials on primates. Subjects who received the therapy within their first month of life remained protected for at least three years. However, treatment introduced later—at 8-12 weeks of age—proved less effective, as the developing immune system became less tolerant and tended to reject the genetic intervention.
The core of this technology utilizes a harmless adeno-associated virus (AAV), which acts as a `delivery vehicle,` transporting the desired gene into muscle cells. These modified cells then function as miniature factories, continuously producing broad neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that are effective against a wide range of HIV strains. This groundbreaking approach solves a major challenge: previously, similar antibodies required repeated and regular injections, a logistical hurdle particularly difficult to overcome in resource-limited countries.
The authors emphasize the urgent need for such a solution, noting that approximately 300 children worldwide contract HIV every day, primarily through breastfeeding. A single injection at birth represents a significant chance for survival for infants in regions with limited access to medical care, especially in African countries, which account for up to 90 percent of pediatric HIV cases.
In related research, scientists have previously made progress towards developing an HIV cure by learning to `awaken` hidden viruses within cells, offering another avenue in the fight against the disease.
