HIV can be controlled by genetic engineering

A therapy that involves modifying DNA cells has proved effective in controlling HIV without drugs, and trials have been expanded and extended.

The treatment works by infusing patients with a dose modified white blood, or 'T cells’, so the patient becomes largely resistant to HIV.

Although current HIV regimens can control the virus, they can have side effects and a number people are resistant to certain drugs. 

Current methods work by stopping the replication of HIV in the body and achieving an 'undetectable' viral load by using powerful and toxic drugs. This new, innovative method aims to stop the HIV from infecting new cells without medicinal aid. 

The US trial was initially carried out on 12 people. The study was to ensure safety and side-effects of the infused cells and the FDA found it yielded encouraging results.

As it was such a small study, the FDA could not generalize a conclusion, so it decided to extend the trial to 70 people.

Results were promising and found that a number of patients controlled the virus for up to four years. An increase in T cells was also noted, which was unexpected due to the cessation of HIV drugs.

HIV initially use receptors called CCR5, a protein found on the surface of white blood cells, to enter and infect new cells.

Those who are naturally resistant to HIV (known as ‘elite controllers’) have a mutation of CCR5 and this protects them against the virus.

This genome editing technique imitates the process by altering the gene that produces the CCR5 so that it does not allow HIV to enter new cells. 

FDA approval has been given to extend the current, and begin two more US based trials. One is a more aggressive method to disable CCR5 so that HIV cannot latch onto new cells, and the other uses the original strategy but aimed at people who have failed current HIV drug regimens.

Research into this methodology increased after the ‘Berlin Patient’, Timothy Ray Brown, was effectively 'cured' from HIV after a stem cell transplant from a donor with natural HIV fighting genes. He is the only person known to have been 'cured' of HIV.

Campaigners note this is not a 'cure' for HIV, but may produce a more effective treatment of the virus.