Rare double infection: Lupus patient makes antibodies to fight HIV

One woman’s uncommon ability to fight her HIV infection may provide new insights for developing a vaccine that triggers a special immune response against the viral disease, researchers said. Scientists studied a 33-year old woman who had a rare combination of lupus, an autoimmune disease in which an overactive immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissues, along with HIV, which damages and weakens the immune system. The researchers found that in response to her HIV, the woman’s immune system produced what are called “broadly neutralizing antibodies,” which are effective incontrolling HIV. Very few people infected with HIV create these antibodies, because the immune system typically keeps their production in check. However, it has been suggested that impaired immune systems, such as those of people with lupus, would allow for the production of these antibodies, the researchers said. “We found that the patient did indeed make these important antibodies, and by determining how this...