New test detects antibodies that attack HIV

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

11 years ago

– Reported – May, 13 2013

U.S. scientists have created a test that can detect in HIV-infected patients, antibodies which are capable of attacking the virus and to neutralize, but not to fight an infection. The test can also tell how these antibodies act on the HIV virus, and which parts they attack. According to the researchers, this new tool can provide important information for the development of a new vaccine against infection. The study that led to the test was published Friday in the journal Science .

Although our body is unable to completely combat an infection with the HIV virus, there are some cases of infected people whose blood has powerful HIV neutralizing properties. For some time, scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID, English acronym) study these patients, especially their antibodies that have the ability to attack the virus that causes AIDS.

However, there are a number of difficulties in the study of these antibodies. Until now, the available techniques do not allow for this easily detect when analyzing blood samples from patients, the characteristics of antibodies that attack HIV or so which parts of the virus attacked. In addition, to determine how and where antibodies adhered to the virus were required large amounts of blood donors.

Tool – The test created in NIAID developed based on a mathematical algorithm, provides a “fingerprint” of antibodies that neutralize HIV, allowing scientists to explore an important database stored on these antibodies over the past few years. According to researchers, the system can measure cells which viruses can be neutralized by a specific antibody and with which intensity, and calculating the specific types of antibodies and the proportion of each of comparing its characteristics with those contained in database.

For the authors, the technique could also be used in the study of human immune responses to other pathogens such as influenza virus or hepatitis C.

Credits: http://veja.abril.com.br/