It is a word that sends shivers through many a stalwart spine! A word that is synonymous with shame and prejudice! A word that the erudite and the unlettered are conditioned to fear! Yes, you have guessed right! We are discussing AIDS.

The microbe responsible for the ‘carnage’, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is blessed with the ability of existing as an integral part of the human genome. The biggest challenge in the treatment of AIDS is that the virus remains dormant, as a provirus, within the confines of the human DNA and develops resistance to anti-AIDS drugs.

Dr Indrani Sarkar’s PhD thesis is bound to cause a stir among HIV/AIDS patients and their doctors. Her thesis, based on her doctoral work done at the Max Planck Institute in Dresden, Germany, has thrown a beacon of light onto the despairing world of AIDS.

A cure for HIV should be based on completely removing the virus from the infected cells. Dr.Indrani, along with her enterprising colleagues have developed an enzyme that has the potency to permanently eradicate the AIDS virus from their cellular abode. This enzyme, christened the ‘Tre’, has been especially ‘tailor-made’ to function like a pair of biological scissors.

‘Tre’, belongs to a group of enzymes called the ‘recombinase’. It recognizes the viral sequences embedded in the infected human genome and binds to it through the process of recombination. The enzyme, then, excises the provirus and in about three months’ time, eradicates the disease permanently. It took a year and 126 cycles of mutation to genetically ‘engineer’ the enzyme.

Based on WHO reports, there are nearly 40 million people affected by AIDS. ‘Tre’ is a ground –breaking, epoch-making discovery but, it could be anywhere between five and twenty years, before it becomes suitable to save sinking lives. This is because ‘Tre’is a novel enzyme that needs to be designed, time-tested and ‘revoked’ outside the controlled laboratory conditions.

Although a permanent cure for this discriminating disease is not round the corner, Dr. Indrani’s worthy work may bear good tidings for those braving the dreaded disease and may prove to be a solace that make their spirits soar!