UCLA: Stem Cells Kill HIV

UCLA: Stem Cells Kill HIV | News | Advocate.com)

"We have demonstrated in this proof-of-principle study that this type of approach can be used to engineer the human immune system, particularly the T-cell response, to specifically target HIV-infected cells,"

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would think this is rather big news.

or does it have something to do with this being only "proof of principle study" whatever that is

There have been stem cell studies done that try to trigger a response to HIV, or strengthen the cells enough to resist the virus. One company that came close was Enzo Biochem. They developed a vector that strengthened the cells enough to ward off the virus, but all of a sudden the research was no longer available to see anywhere on the website. I assume it failed somehow.

If this new UCLA research has found something that Enzo did not, that would be great, but I have to say it is cautious optimism. The laboratory director of the cell processing laboratory I worked for always said that most research fails. Although breakthroughs are encouraging, until it makes it out of the research stage, don't get your hopes up.

so this is like the first of 100 steps required for a successful discovery?

DeeJayH said:

so this is like the first of 100 steps required for a successful discovery?

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I think 95% of all research like this either get to step 2 and realize that step one was a freak accident they couldn't replicate, get to step 4 and realize that steps 2-3 were freak accidents that cannot be replicated with humans, or get to 5 where they realize nobody is going to fund them anymore because they have 95 more steps to go before getting anywhere.

A cell killed a virus?

Do they have a cure, or no?

American said:

A cell killed a virus?

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Obviously a reporter's interpretation. I don't think viruses are even alive, so how can they be killed? :waiting:

DarkWizard12 said:

Do they have a cure, or no?

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An experimental application of an experimental branch of treatment has been shown to be plausible in a proof of concept study. It's a positive development and warrants further interest, but it's not like UCLA just announced the Cure for Aids™

American said:

A cell killed a virus?

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If you're not going to read the article, at least read the OP. Anything more than the title would be good, really

"We have demonstrated in this proof-of-principle study that this type of approach can be used to engineer the human immune system, particularly the T-cell response, to specifically target HIV-infected cells,"

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