HIV Functional Cure Through Bone Marrow Transplant

Medicine

A 63-year-old man has achieved a functional cure for HIV after receiving a bone marrow transplant from his brother. The brother possesses a rare genetic mutation, CCR5Δ32, which confers resistance to HIV-1 by preventing the virus from binding to T cells. This is the first documented case of a functional cure for HIV using a sibling donor with this mutation. While promising, the procedure is currently only recommended for patients with other serious medical conditions requiring a transplant due to its significant risks.

HIV Transplantation Genetics

20 Questions Medium Ages 16+ Apr 14, 2026

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About this Study Set

This study set covers Medicine through 20 practice questions. A 63-year-old man has achieved a functional cure for HIV after receiving a bone marrow transplant from his brother. The brother possesses a rare genetic mutation, CCR5Δ32, which confers resistance to HIV-1 by preventing the virus from binding to T cells. This is the first documented case of a functional cure for HIV using a sibling donor with this mutation. While promising, the procedure is currently only recommended for patients with other serious medical conditions requiring a transplant due to its significant risks. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.

Questions & Answers

Browse all 20 questions from the HIV Functional Cure Through Bone Marrow Transplant study set below. Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.

1 What condition has a 63-year-old man been functionally cured of?

A Hepatitis B
B HIV
C Tuberculosis
D Malaria

2 What medical procedure led to the functional cure of HIV in this patient?

A Gene therapy
B Chemotherapy
C Bone marrow transplant
D Vaccination

3 From whom did the patient receive the bone marrow donation?

A An unrelated donor
B His sister
C His brother
D A volunteer

4 What rare genetic mutation does the donor possess that confers resistance to HIV-1?

A CCR5Δ32
B BRCA1
C CFTR
D APOE4

5 What does the CCR5Δ32 mutation prevent the function of on human immune cells?

A Antibody production
B Receptors that HIV binds to
C Red blood cell formation
D Cell division

6 What type of immune cells does HIV commonly bind to?

A B cells
B Macrophages
C T cells
D Natural Killer cells

7 What was the gold standard treatment for HIV mentioned in the text before this new development?

A Surgery
B Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
C Plasma exchange
D Immunoglobulin therapy

8 What is a limitation of ART drugs in treating HIV?

A They cause rapid organ failure
B They eliminate the virus entirely
C They do not eliminate the virus entirely and it can remain dormant
D They are only effective in children

9 After the transplant, where did researchers search for reservoirs of HIV?

A Hair follicles and nails
B Blood, gut tissues, and bone marrow
C Saliva and tears
D Nerve endings

10 What did researchers find regarding detectable HIV in the patient's tissues after the transplant?

A High levels of detectable HIV
B No detectable HIV
C Intermittent detectable HIV
D Only detectable in cerebrospinal fluid

11 According to Marius Trøseid, what is key for a cure in HIV treatment?

A Peripheral blood engraftment
B Bone marrow engraftment
C Gut mucosal tissue engraftment
D Lymph node regeneration

12 Why is this bone marrow transplant treatment not yet available for most people with HIV?

A It is too expensive
B It is too risky compared to ART
C The technology is still experimental
D It requires a specific climate to be effective

13 For whom is this bone marrow transplant treatment currently considered primarily?

A Patients with mild HIV
B Patients with other malignancies or medical conditions requiring a transplant
C Patients who have stopped ART
D Asymptomatic HIV carriers

14 What is a significant risk associated with bone marrow transplants for recipients?

A Improved immune function
B Graft versus host disease (GVHD)
C Weight gain
D Increased energy levels

15 What does GVHD mean in the context of a bone marrow transplant?

A The donor cells are rejected by the patient's body
B The patient's cells attack the donor cells
C The donor cells attack the patient's body
D The patient's immune system is completely suppressed

16 What did scientists observe regarding HIV remission even when the donor does not have two copies of the CCR5Δ32 mutation?

A HIV remission did not occur
B HIV remission was less likely
C HIV infection went into remission
D The virus became more aggressive

17 What can happen if donor cells are too different from the recipient's cells in a transplant?

A Increased risk of graft rejection
B Reduced risk of GVHD
C Transplant complications such as GVHD could be more of a concern
D The transplant is more likely to be successful

18 What is a potential risk if donor cells are too similar to the recipient's cells?

A The treatment could fail to effectively destroy infected T cells
B The recipient's immune system will be overactive
C The donor cells will not engraft
D Severe allergic reactions

19 What type of virus is HIV-1?

A A bacterium
B A fungus
C A retrovirus
D A parasite

20 What is the primary function of ART drugs for individuals with HIV?

A To completely eradicate the virus from the body
B To prevent HIV from reproducing and spreading
C To boost the immune system to fight off opportunistic infections
D To repair damaged T cells

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