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By Regina Bailey, About.com Guide to Biology since 1997

Genetically Engineered HIV Fighting Immune Cells

Saturday March 8, 2008
HIV-1 budding from cultured lymphocyte.
Credit: CDC / C. Goldsmith, P. Feorino, E. L. Palmer, W. R. McManus
Scientists have genetically engineered immune cells to make them more effective at fighting HIV.

When a person is under attack from HIV, his or her immune system takes charge to fight the invader.

Specific cells called T-cells can detect infected cells and destroy them. The HIV virus however, can eventually overwhelm the immune system and potentially lead to the development of AIDS.

In this study, researchers were able to genetically modify specific T-cells enabling them to bind more tightly to the HIV infected cells, thereby reducing the spread of the virus.

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