HIV Researchers Discover Virus Prefers Targeting Immune Cells Covered with Sugar on its Surface

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system.

In a new study by researchers from the Gladstone Institute in the United States, it is found that the virus has a taste for sugar located in one of the system's immune cells called CD4 T cells.

Through sugar monitoring in a cellular level, the scientists were able to pull of the existing roadblock which has vexed HIV researchers for decades.

This is the first time that such feat was attained since the virus was reported in Africa back in 1950s, which affected millions of people worldwide including in the US, Europe, and Asia.

HIV Novel Aspects

(Photo : ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

In a new paper published in the journal eLife on Tuesday, July 5, scientists found that some immune cells containing sugar in our body are susceptible to HIV.

The findings were conducted through singe-cell glycemic analysis.

This was made possible through high-parameter single-cell phenotyping, allowing the classification and interrogation of immune cells.

However, characterizing the glycemic content of cells was not possible at the time of the study's writing.

Also Read: Possible Cure for HIV and AIDS Just a Few Years Away, Researchers Say

HIV Targets CD4 Cells

For a long time, scientists have an idea that HIV targets a specific type of immune cells called memory CD4 T cells.

However, knowledge on the specific reason behind such preference was not clearly defined in the past or it was difficult to ascertain, according to Phys.org.

In particular, the CD4 cells come in many flavors, yet the challenge lies in the technological capability to determine which individual cell is preferred by HIV than the other.

HIV Replication

CD4 cells are responsible for supporting the body fight off infections, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

However, these immune cells eventually get damaged or destroyed upon the entry of HIV, which replicates itself that leads to the destruction of the host cell.

HIV acts and behaves like other pathogenic viruses at some degree.

Still, the new discovery is unique since it uncovers since it uncovers the novel aspects of the viral infection never seen before.

HIV Symptoms and Transmission

While HIV is still a pandemic, its symptoms and transmission are not clearly evident as compared to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Since the HIV disease is known as a "lifetime infection" due to its gradual manifestation yet permanence in the body. This means that one can only suppress its effect through treatment since there is still no cure for it.

When HIV is untreated it intensifies into the lethal acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which can lead into further serious health complications and even death.

HIV transmission transpires via blood or body fluids. The most known channels of the transmission are through sexual intercourse and from syringes with the blood or fluid of an infected person.

HIV symptoms can be noticed after months or even years after the initial infection.

The symptoms include fever, headache, rash, diarrhea, and weight loss.

In addition, extended symptoms include conditions as a result of a weakened immune system from other pathogens like bacteria.