A one time cure for HIV

In 2009, a German HIV positive cancer patient underwent radiation and chemotherapy, effectively knocking out his immune system. His doctor, Gero Hütter, found a bone marrow match who was also homozygous for a CCR5-∆32 receptor mutation. This led to production of HIV resistant T cells in the patient who now, many years later and without anti-retroviral treatment, still shows no sign of HIV infection.

for the credit to this fantastic 80s photo

This case is still more of an anomaly rather than the rule of HIV treatment today. However, it did open new areas of research for HIV treatment through the removal of latent reservoirs of HIV provirus in infected cells and alterations of patient immune responses. Research began to focus on how aspects of Dr. Hütter’s treatment could lead to potential cures for HIV infected patients, and led to new hopes for patients and AIDS research.

• the original paper

update to the paper
LA Times article of the history and possible future of the "Berlin Patient"