Research Into The Killer Disease AIDS At Cambridge University Is Bringing Hope To Its Victims

Dr Abraham Karpas describes a development towards building immunity.

Seen working at a microscope in his Cambridge laboratory, Dr Abraham Karpas is then interviewed by Anglia TV reporter Rebecca Atherstone. His research has shown that healthy AIDS carriers can help those who have developed the AIDS disease to live more normal lives. The antibodies in the blood of the carrier can help build resistance to infections for those with the disease. Dr Karpas stresses that the virus can be killed off completely in the laboratory, but not in the human body, but the treatment can kill most of the virus and reduce its effects. Asked if this is the first step towards a miracle cure, Dr Karpas says that would require a miracle drug. This video was made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

AIDS; Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Medicine; Medical research; Viruses

Additional Description

A Lithuanian-born British citizen, research virologist Dr Abraham Karpas worked in the department of haematology of the University of Cambridge Clinical School for 36 years. Amongst the achievements in his CV, Dr Abraham Karpas was the first in the UK to develop human leukaemia cell lines that can proliferate indefinitely in vitro. From 1985 he pioneered passive immunotherapy (PIT) treatment for AIDS patients. In 1985 he also developed an AIDS cell test for anti-HIV antibodies that enables anti HIV-1 and anti HIV-2 infections to be distinguished easily.