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Gene therapy offers fresh hope
- Nobel Laureate David Baltimore has obtained promising results in prevention of HIV infection in mice by adopting a radically different approach.
- They deployed gene therapy, which is traditionally used for curing genetic diseases.
- SIV, a virus that is analogous to HIV
- As a first step, genes from five broadly neutralising antibodies capable of preventing HIV infection were chosen. DNA, which code for the antibodies, were then inserted into the adenovirus-based vectors and injected into the leg muscles of the mice. The muscle cells containing the DNA eventually started producing the broadly neutralising antibodies. Surprisingly, two antibodies were able to prevent HIV infection
- Clinical trials on humans may follow soon.
- While preventive vaccines containing an immunogen (antigen) prime the immune system to produce antibodies against a virus well before the body is naturally exposed to it, the new approach completely bypasses the immune system and presents the body with DNA capable of producing potent antibodies.
- Despite the impressive results, there is sufficient reason to be cautious. Similar levels of success may not be seen in humans.
- But most importantly, once introduced into the body, there is no way of removing the DNA or turning them off, should things go wrong.
