Tales from the Geek, Part Three

In what could become an important breakthrough in AIDS treatment, genetically engineered immune cells known as T-cells

were able to recognize other cells infected by HIV and slow the spread of the virus in lab dishes,

Reuters reported earlier this week. What made this especially important is that one of the reasons that the AIDS virus is so hard to combat is that it can mutate in ways that enable it to in effect hide from the body's immune system. But

[n]ot only could the engineered T-cells see HIV strains that had escaped detection by natural T-cells, "but the engineered T cells responded in a much more vigorous fashion so that far fewer T-cells were required to control infection," James Riley [of the University of Pennsylvania, who was among the researchers], said in a statement.

"In the face of our engineered assassin cells, the virus will either die or be forced to change its disguises again, weakening itself along the way," added Andy Sewell of Britain's Cardiff University.

Initial patient trials are to start as soon as next year.

Footnote: The same article also noted a report that an experimental vaccine prevented AIDS infection in six monkeys. The vaccine uses a virus dangerous to humans and so is not ready for human tests, but researchers said it showed there is still hope for a vaccine against (not just a treatment for) AIDS.