A sixth person appears to have been cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant. However, the so-called “Geneva Patient” appears to be slightly different from other cases.
He didn’t receive stem cells from someone with a known genetic mutation that confers HIV immunity.A tiny number of people have a natural, genetic immunity to HIV.
If someone with HIV needs a stem cell transplant, and they receive the cells from someone with this immunity, they can be functionally cured of HIV.
Their immune system is basically rebooted from scratch with the genetic modification included.This has been observed five times previously.