Associate Professor David Harrich, who works in the QIMR's Molecular Virology Laboratory on HIV. PIC: Liam Kidston. Source: The Courier-Mail

A QUEENSLAND researcher has developed a gene therapy for HIV which has the potential to stop the virus from turning deadly.

Queensland Institute of Medical Research scientist David Harrich will begin animal trials this year, with experiments in humans are still five years away.

Associate Professor Harrich has manipulated an HIV protein involved in gene expression, known as Tat, and turned it into a weapon against the virus.

Using human immune system cells, known as T cells, in the laboratory, he's shown the mutant protein prevents HIV replication.

At the same time, Prof Harrich said the modified protein, dubbed Nullbasic, did not appear to adversely affect the human cells.

"So far we haven't found that Nullbasic causes toxicity in the cells we've tested," he said.

"I'm excited. Every test I've done with this agent has succeeded. It makes me optimistic it will work in humans. At the same time, I'm a sceptical scientist and I'm going to require proof it can jump every hurdle." QIMR researchers will soon begin testing the protein in mice.

"Before you can trial it on humans, it's going to have to go through rigorous testing in animals for safety," Professor Harrich said.

In order for human cells to make the HIV-inhibitory protein in the laboratory, he had to insert a new gene - a process known as gene therapy.

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Researcher has HIV control in sight

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