Scientists at Northwestern Medicine have identified a novel compound which could inform future HIV cure strategies. The new research was published in the journal Science Advances.

The majority of people living with HIV are treated with antiretroviral medication, which suppresses viral replication and spread, but does not cure HIV. This is because the virus can hide inside immune cells, making itself undetectable to the body’s immune system and resistant to antiretroviral therapy.

The publication, led by Judd Hultquist, PhD, and Ali Shilatifard, PhD, describes how the newly identified compound works to boost an experimental approach during which the latent virus is activated so it can be targeted by the body’s immune system or antiretroviral drugs.

The study was partially supported by the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research.

Read more in Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s News Center.