TORONTO, CANADA / The Canadian Press --  Researchers in Canada and the United States have made a breakthrough discovery in the fight against HIV infection: a protein that can limit the viral attack.

The Globe and Mail reports today that the study found that the protein FOX03a not only can limit the deterioration of certain disease-fighting immune cells, but could help with the development of an HIV vaccine.

HIV is characterized by the deterioration of T-cells, or central memory cells that orchestrate the body's ability to fight the disease. HIV attacks these cells.

Researchers from the University of Montreal, McGill University Health Centre and BD BioSciences of San Diego, Calif., combined forces to look at ways to limit the deterioration of memory T-cells.

Elias Haddad, a researcher at the University of Montreal and co-author of the study, said this protein in the nucleus of T-cells can induce generation of molecules that lead to the cells' death.

Inhibiting this action could prevent premature T-cell death and Haddad thinks that now scientists can look to "reverse the premature death of memory cells during chronic HIV infection".

Last update: 03-05-2008 16:41