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HIV discovery
There is currently no known cure for infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Patients take antiretroviral drugs that slow viral replication or block the virus from entering human immune cells. However, evolution of resistant viral strains is an ever-present problem.
A research team that included Andrew Henderson, Avery August and Gillian Schiralli from Penn State's Center for Molecular Immunology and Infectious Disease have now made a discovery that could bolster the anti-HIV armory.
The researchers found that knocking out the enzyme ITK (inducible T-cell kinase) inhibits HIV's ability to replicate and spread between cells. Their findings are reported in a 2008 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.