Stem Cell: Scientists have announced a breakthrough in the fight against HIV, as they successfully cured a third person of the virus. Dubbed “the Duesseldorf patient,” the 53-year-old man was treated with a stem cell transplant to cure his HIV and acute myeloid leukaemia.
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Will guide towards future cure strategies
This procedure had previously cured two other patients, one in Berlin and one in London. The successful treatment was revealed in a study published in the journal Nature Medicine, which states that “this third case of HIV-1 cure” provides “valuable insights that will hopefully guide future cure strategies.”
The Duesseldorf patient underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2013, using stem cells from a female donor with a rare CCR5 gene mutation. This mutation prevents the virus from entering cells, making the transplant a potential cure for HIV. Ten years after the transplant, the patient celebrated the success of the procedure, saying that he was proud of his “worldwide team of doctors who succeeded in curing me of HIV — and at the same time, of course, of leukaemia.”
Difficilt to find bone marrow
While the bone marrow transplant is a severe and risky operation, it offers hope to those suffering from HIV and leukemia. However, finding a bone marrow donor with the rare gene mutation remains a significant challenge. Nonetheless, this breakthrough provides valuable insights for future research and treatment strategies.
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