Fighting HIV

A study published in the journal Cell, reports that researchers from the California Institute of Technology have developed an antibody that could effectively detect and neutralise HIV virus. The antibodies known as ‘broadly neutralising antibodies’ (bNAbs) have been found in blood samples of some HIV patients whose immune systems can naturally control HIV infection.

These antibodies are capable of protecting the healthy cells of a patient by recognising a protein present on HIV strains known as envelope spike. bNAbs can neutralise the effects of the virus by destroying envelope spike.

Researchers even figured out that apart from envelope spike, bNAb can also take on conformations during infection which makes it easier to identify and eliminate HIV viruses.