Researchers Discover Gene That Blocks HIV

stemceller writes to tell us that a team of researchers at the University of Alberta claims to have discovered a gene capable of blocking HIV thereby preventing the onset of full blown AIDS. "Stephen Barr, a molecular virologist in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, says his team has identified a gene called TRIM22 that can block HIV infection in a cell culture by preventing the assembly of the virus. 'When we put this gene in cells, it prevents the assembly of the HIV virus," said Barr, a postdoctoral fellow. "This means the virus cannot get out of the cells to infect other cells, thereby blocking the spread of the virus.'"

Comments

Re:Holy crap!

[jollyreaper]

Sure. They just use a mostly-dead other virus to permanently change your genetic code. Nothing could possibly go wrong. If it was all dead, we could go through its pockets for spare change.

Re:Holy crap!

[zippthorne]

Fortunately, we also know of a virus which suppresses the immune system...