Lab-grown reservoir cells aim at HIV's last strongholds
Medical Xpress
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in understanding HIV by successfully isolating and studying authentic reservoir clones (ARCs), which are HIV-infected cells that evade the immune system and persist despite treatment. These ARCs represent one of the biggest challenges to curing HIV, as they remain hidden and resistant to both antiretroviral therapy and immune responses. Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, Rockefeller University, and other institutions have developed a novel method to grow these elusive cells in laboratory conditions, allowing them to study their behavior and vulnerabilities in detail.
By cultivating ARCs in controlled environments, the researchers discovered that some of these cells may be more susceptible to immune destruction than previously believed. This finding challenges the long-held notion that all reservoir cells are inherently resistant to immune attack. The study provides new insights into how HIV persists in the body and opens up potential strategies for targeting these cells with precision therapies.
The ability to isolate and analyze ARCs is a major step forward in HIV research, as it allows scientists to better understand the mechanisms by which these cells evade detection and destruction. This breakthrough could pave the way for the development of targeted treatments or vaccines that specifically tackle reservoir cells, potentially leading to a cure for HIV
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Originally published on Medical Xpress on 2/24/2026