New gene may prevent HIV from spreading
Scientists at King's College London say they have discovered a new gene that can stop HIV from spreading once it is inside the human body.
According to the authors, who published their study in the journal Nature, the gene - MX2 - could be included in new more effective and less toxic HIV treatments.
Lead researcher, Professor Mike Malim, said "This is an extremely exciting finding which advances our understanding of how HIV virus interacts with the immune system and opens up opportunities to develop new therapies to treat the disease. Until now, we knew very little about the MX2 gene, but now we recognize both its potent anti-viral function and a key point of vulnerability in the life cycle of HIV."