Since a definitive HIV cure remains elusive, experts are delving deeper into the cellular aspect of the disease. A proposed cellular vaccination that aims to fortify cells against the HIV/AIDS is being developed.

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have managed to replace diseased cells with improved versions by tethering HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells. Therefore, creating a cell population resistant to the virus.

Although the experiment was carried out in the lab, the possibility of finally discovering a definitive HIV cure has increased. The protection promised by the latest HIV/AIDS breakthrough promises to be a long-term solution, according to the Scripps.

"This protection would be long term," said Jia Xie, senior staff scientist at TSRI and first author of the study published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The efficacy of the experiment is yet to be tested on humans. The study's senior author Richard Lerner, M.D. plans to work with experts at City of Hope's Center for Gene Therapy to fully determine the safety and efficiency of the method.

"City of Hope currently has active clinical trials of gene therapy for AIDS using blood stem cell transplantation, and this experience will be applied to the task of bringing this discovery to the clinic. The ultimate goal will be the control of HIV in patients with AIDS without the need for other medications." Science Daily quoted the director of the Center for Gene Therapy at the Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute at City of Hope, John A. Zaia, M.D. saying.

Although it is still under development and scrutiny, experts believe that the success of the study will benefit HIV/AIDS patients. The highly-sought HIV cure will likely come from this cellular vaccination being offered by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute.

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