HIV: Reprogramming cells to control infection

Following research on cohorts, scientists have described the characteristics of CD8 immune cells in these ‘HIV controller’ subjects. The unique antiviral power of these immune cells can be attributed to an optimal metabolic program that confers persistence and the ability to react effectively against infected cells. Working ex vivo, the scientists successfully reprogrammed cells from infected non-controller individuals to give them the same antiviral potency as controllers’ cells.