The New Jersey Star-Ledgerreports that two Princeton scientists have discovered a genetic "switch" that could theoretically turn off HIV.
Scientists have long known that HIV can go dormant, only to emerge again later and run rampant through the body.
"We know the virus can hide out," Weinberger said. "How does it hibernate? We wanted to look at the basic components of the virus."
In the laboratory, the two created a "gutted" HIV virus, or one with molecular components removed. The scientists then looked at the components necessary for the virus to replicate.
Scientists already know that a protein called Tat is connected to HIV's ability to go dormant. After a year of work, the Princeton team identified enzymes that act on the protein. These enzymes modify, or "decorate," the protein. Together, the Tat protein and the enzymes create the cascade of chemical reactions that push HIV in and out of latency.
So far, the scientists have pin-pointed the target, but have no way, at present, to affect it.
The scientists believe their findings could help pharmaceutical companies come with a drug to turn off HIV. They also believe their genetic circuit concept could lead to the development of drugs that turn off other viruses. The PLoS Biology article can be found here.
