In Recent discoveries, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health have found a promising new way to fight HIV using tiny particles called exosomes. In a recent study, they used these particles to deliver a specially designed protein, ZPAMt, directly into HIV-infected cells of mice. The protein attaches to the virus’s genetic material and shuts down its ability to replicate, reducing HIV levels in the bone marrow, spleen, and brain. Because exosomes can cross the blood-brain barrier, this approach can reach parts of the body where HIV often hides, something existing treatments struggle to do.
The research, led by Kevin Morris, Ph.D., explores a “block and lock” strategy, aiming to keep HIV dormant and prevent it from multiplying. The success of this exosome-based delivery method could have big implications, not just for HIV, but also for other brain-related diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and addiction. By showing that therapeutic proteins can be delivered safely and effectively to hard-to-reach areas, this study opens the door for a new wave of targeted treatments.
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