The Latest Biology News And Medical NewsBiology News 2Health News 2Biology News 3Health News 3
HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
Scientists Make Progress Toward Gene Therapy For HIV Infection

Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have reported their first findings from a novel study to determine whether virus-fighting immune cells can be genetically altered to boost the immune system's response to HIV infection.

"This innovative approach provides further groundwork for future efforts to treat HIV by manipulating the immune system," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

The NIAID scientists studied 30 sets of identical twins in which one twin was infected with HIV and the other was uninfected. HIV-fighting T-cells were taken from the healthy twin and genetically altered to produce an extra receptor that helps the cells recognize HIV-infected cells. The engineered cells were then infused into the HIV-infected twin, with the goal of augmenting or restoring the T-cells' ability to fight the virus.

In a paper to be presented by principal investigator Robert E. Walker, M.D., at the 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, the scientists report that transfer of genetically altered T-cells into 30 HIV-infected twins was safe and well-tolerated. Trying different combinations of T-cells, they learned that a mix of genetically bolstered CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells proved to be the most long-lived. The cells not only persisted at high levels in the bloodstream for at least 100 days after infusion, but also proliferated.

"Although these results are preliminary, they're encouraging enough for us to take the next steps in studying this approach," says Dr. Walker.

The research is a collaboration with Cell Genesys, Inc., of Foster City, Calif. Cell Genesys scientists developed the methods for transferring the receptor-producing genes into T-cells, while NIAID scientists are conducting the Phase I/II clinical trial of the experimental treatment at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. Cell Genesys is conducting additional work to examine this approach in the more practical setting of autolog
'"/>

Contact: June Wyman
jwyman@nih.gov
(301) 402-1663
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
1-Jul-1998


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Scientists to prototype cyberinfrastructure for research and education access to ocean observatories
2. Scientists sequence genome of kind of organism central to biospheres carbon cycle
3. Scientists find nanowires capable of detecting individual viruses
4. Scientists discover potential new way to control drug-resistant bacteria
5. Scientists explore genome of methane-breathing microbe
6. Scientists decipher genetic code of biothreat pathogen
7. Stuck on you: Scientists lay bare secrets of bacterial attachment proteins
8. Scientists discover proteins involved in spread of HIV-1 infection
9. Scientists fear new Ebola outbreak may explain sudden gorilla disappearance
10. Scientists reinvent DNA as template to produce organic molecules
11. Scientists visualise cellular handmaiden that restores shape to proteins

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Scientists Make Progress Toward Gene Therapy For HIV Infection

(Date:11/23/2009)... day matters to forest trees dealing with drought,...eam led by Professor Malcolm Campbell, University ...ch and colleagues in the department of cell and sy...talizing on their previous work to decode the geno...how poplar trees use their 45,000 genes to respond...
(Date:11/23/2009)...ts gathered this week for the seventh annual Natio...This year,s topic, "Synthetic Biology," brought to...ers to explore the engineering, scientific, and so...hetic biology. , Bonnie L. Bassler, professor of...s year,s conference chair, challenged the attendee...
(Date:11/23/2009)...ncontrovertible evidence" that the volcanic super-...,000 years ago deforested much of central India, s...port. , The volcano ejected an estimated 800 cub...a crater (now the world,s largest volcanic lake) t... Ash from the event has been found in India, the I...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Time of day matters to thirsty trees, U of T researcher discovers 2Synthetic biology offers new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration 2Supervolcano eruption -- in Sumatra -- deforested India 73,000 years ago 2Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers 28AGEM 29 Announces 24100 000 in Contributions to Organizations Working to Assist Problem Gamblers 52789 1Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers 28AGEM 29 Announces 24100 000 in Contributions to Organizations Working to Assist Problem Gamblers 52789 2Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers 28AGEM 29 Announces 24100 000 in Contributions to Organizations Working to Assist Problem Gamblers 52789 3NASA Extends Bioastronautics Contract With Wyle for Total Value of 24976 Million 13210 1NASA Extends Bioastronautics Contract With Wyle for Total Value of 24976 Million 13210 2Brookdale Announces Second Quarter 2009 Release and Earnings Call 52783 1
(Date:11/25/2009)...RNewswire/--Reportlinker.comannouncesthatanewmarke...razilBioethanolMarketAnalysisandForecaststo2013 ,...Bioethanol-Market-Analysis-and-Forecasts-to-2013.h...ststo2013 ,, Summary ,, Thereportprovidesd...rketandtheBrazilbioethanolmarketinparticular.Itals...
(Date:11/24/2009)...RNewswire-FirstCall/--IES(Nasdaq: IESC ),aleadingn...sandservicesforthecommercial,industrialandresident...grouphasbeenawardedacontractfromManhattanTorconJVt...lab(BSL-4)replacementfacilityattheU.S.ArmyMedicalR...rtDetrickinFrederick,Md. ,, ThenewUSAMRIIDrepla...
(Date:11/24/2009)...,Nov.24/PRNewswire/--Twomoreprestigiousuniversitie...ejobboardandcareerssiteforlifescienceprofessionals...bersofthejobboard,joining28othermajorlifesciencetr...ercenter.com ,isonlyforpost-graduatesinthelifescie...ontheInternet,BioCareerCenteristheonlyonethatserve...
(Date:11/24/2009)...PRNewswire-FirstCall/--Sigma-AldrichCorporation(Na...ceonTuesday,December1stat1:45PMGMTinLondon,7:45AMU...astovertheInternetavailableat http://inve s tor...ast"icontoaccessthisfile. ,, AboutSigma-Aldri...nologycompany.Itschemicalandbiochemicalproductsand...
Breaking Biology Technology:Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 2Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 3Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 4Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 5Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 6Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 7Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 8Reportlinker Adds Brazil Bioethanol Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013 9Integrated Electrical Services Awarded Contract to Provide Electrical Systems for U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases 2Two Major Universities Join Nation's Leading Postgrad Bio Job Board 2
Other News:
NASHVILLE, Tenn., It was a warm summer night that Tuesday a night not unlike many others he had spent working in the lab when Richard Nass, Ph.D. walked down the empty hallway and entered a small,
...aoxonase 1 (PON1) is associated with high-density ...DL are due largely to the ability of its associate...sity lipoproteins (LDL) and prevent the transform...(OxLDL). ......PON1 is named for its ability hydr...
... altered to get fat, knocking out a particular gen...ins School of Medicine scientists report in the Ma...on....... That "lean" gene is the blueprint for my...hey report. Previous Hopkins studies found that m...
...e mechanisms aimed at protecting themselves agains...ebruary 28 issue of Nature uncovers the molecular ...olds promise for designing hardier crops. ......"...ant cells," says principal investigator Jen Sheen,...
Worm neuron research may lead to powerful model for Parkinson's study 2Worm neuron research may lead to powerful model for Parkinson's study 3Worm neuron research may lead to powerful model for Parkinson's study 4Worm neuron research may lead to powerful model for Parkinson's study 5USF presents new research on hyperlipidemic children 2USF presents new research on hyperlipidemic children 3USF presents new research on hyperlipidemic children 4USF presents new research on hyperlipidemic children 5Muscle gene influences fat storage in mice; may be target to prevent or treat obesity and diabetes 2Muscle gene influences fat storage in mice; may be target to prevent or treat obesity and diabetes 3Researchers discover mechanism of plant resistance to pathogens 2
...ICK: Repair not destruction: a new approach to tre...h as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and diabetic...e result of the growth of abnormal blood vessels t...d to prevent the growth of these abnormal blood ve...
Many diseases of the eye (such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and diabetic retinopathy) that result in loss of vision are the result of the growth of abnormal blood vessels that leak and bleed. C
... to one of the world's largest problems the need ... come from some of the world's smallest inhabitant...Energy Conversion, released by the American Academ... The future might look like a new power plant on ...
...nnual Clinical Genetics Meeting is an outstanding ...in medical and clinical genetics who are providing...counseling services for patients with, or at risk ...atory directors and technicians providing genetic ...
JCI table of contents: November 16, 2006 2JCI table of contents: November 16, 2006 3JCI table of contents: November 16, 2006 4Microorganisms one part of the solution to energy problem, says report 2American College of Medical Genetics -- 2007 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting Announcement 2American College of Medical Genetics -- 2007 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting Announcement 3