cloak that enables HIV, the virus causing AIDS, to hide inside
cells of the body without triggering the body's natural defence
systems.
The new study demonstrates how 'uncloaking' the virus using
an experimental drug triggers an immune response that stops
the virus from replicating in cells grown in the laboratory.
The findings could help to improve existing therapies for HIV
infection and find new ways of virus treatment.
The innate immune system is the body's first line of defence
against infection and incorporates an alarm system present in
all cells of the body that detects the presence of 'foreign'
material from invading bacteria and viruses.
When the alarm is tripped, the infected cell begins an anti-
viral programme and sends out warning signals to alert other
cells that a virus is around.
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