"Berlin Patient" Continues to Point to an HIV Cure

In 2007, an HIV-positive man from the U.S. faced a leukemia diagnosis while living in Berlin. He underwent a bone marrow transplant to try to cure his leukemia. However, this was also an opportunity for him and his doctors to better control, or even cure, his HIV. A bone marrow donor was found who had HIV-resistant stem cells. Due to a genetic mutation called delta-32, these cells did not produce the R5 co-receptor found on immune cells, which HIV uses to get in and reproduce.

In late 2010, an article appeared in the journal, Blood, and reported on this patient's progress now nearly 4 years after the operation. Initially, some thought HIV would reappear given that the virus is present in resting cells which eventually become reactivated and start producing HIV again. However, he continues to have normal CD4s and undetectable