Scientists discover antibody that kills 98 percent of HIV strains

Being diagnosed with HIV or Human immunodeficiency virus is considered a death sentence by many. Once contracted, the virus breaks down a patient's immune system leaving them vulnerable to pretty much any disease. The condition worsens over time and leads to the inevitable diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To date there is no known cure to the proliferation of this virus in the host, making it very challenging to treat.    

There may be a break though -- researchers from NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are convinced that they have developed an antibody to combat this incurable virus. The antibody named N6, is reportedly capable of nullifying 98 percent of the known HIV strains, of which 16 of 20 strains were noted to be resistant to other forms of antibodies in the same category as N6.

Antibodies are produced naturally in our body mainly by plasma cells. It is then used by our immunity system to fight pathogens such as the common cold virus. The human immunodeficiency virus latches on to health immunity cells (white blood corpuscles,) causing them to decompose and perish. This leads patients to experience extreme weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle aches/joint pain, skin rash and much more. The N6 antibody prevents this from happening by enveloping specific areas of the virus and neutralises its ability to further affect immunity cells.

This is not the first attempt at creating an antibody to fight HIV. Previously, researchers developed the VRC01 antibody that nullified about 90 percent of the HIV strain. Apart from better results, the N6 antibody can be administered into fat while an infusion of the VRC01 antibody has to be injected directly into a vein.

Scientists hope that the N6 antibody, coupled with other antibodies and existing forms of treatment could one day lead to a definitive cure to the HIV scourge.