HIV Cure Is Step Closer As Scientists Discover Kill Switch That Stops Virus Reproducing

Sep 26 2019 2:40 AN HIV cure is a step closer after scientists found a molecular kill switch" that stops infected cells reproducing. Lifelong drug treatment can prevent the virus leading to Aids but it remains dormant and can reawaken if therapy is stopped. But now scientists in the US believe they have made a breakthrough - discovering one of the key switches that the HIV field has been searching for three decades to find. When a person is diagnosed with HIV doctors start them on antiretroviral treatment straight away. The combination of three drugs - typically taken in one tablet - work to stop the virus replicating in the body. By doing so it reduces a persons viral load - the amount of HIV in the blood. Once a persons viral load drops below a certain threshold it is described as being undetectable - which means they cannot pass the virus on to a sexual partner even if they have unprotected sex. While the treatment is highly effective it does not amount to a cure. Instead the virus does remain active - though at a very low level - in the body. If antiretroviral therapy is stopped these HIV reservoirs that lie dormant can reawaken.