T-Cell/CCR-5 diversion

Oct 2, 2009

Hi Doctor

I'm learning about the way T-Cells with CCR-5 interact with HIV and how people with no CCR-5 can become immune because of the limitation to the interaction.

As i think about it I wonder if it is possible to divert HIV to interact with something else that looks like a T-Cell because it has CCR-5. I'm thinking a harmless bacteria with the same CCR-5 characteristics that T-Cells have, and maybe one that the T-Cells can cope with.

Couldn't something like this lead to the viral load dropping and being kept under control.

Thanks for site, we need all the support we can get

Response from Dr. Young

Hi and thanks for your post and words.

What you've described is a CCR5 decoy-- this is an interesting idea; tried in the past and unfortunately didn't seem to yield any interesting initial results.

Nevertheless, blockade of the human CCR5 molecule does inhibit HIV replication-- evidenced by the clinical utility of the drug maraviroc (Selzentry).

Be well, BY