HIV used to cure babies in America

Reports from the United States of America indicate that its scientists have used the deadly HIV to make a gene therapy that has cured about eight infants of severe combined immunodeficiency known as the ‘bubble boy' disease.

The reports says the babies who were born with little to no immune protection, now have fully functional immune systems after the operation.

The gene therapy is reported to be  involving collecting the babies' bone marrow and correcting the genetic defect in their DNA soon after their birth.

The so called correct gene was then inserted into an altered version of one of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

An author of the study one Dr Ewelina Mamcarz said in a statement: "These patients are toddlers now, who are responding to vaccinations and have immune systems to make all immune cells they need for protection from infections as they explore the world and live normal lives."

The babies were treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco.