By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter


Prof. Hwang Woo-suk at Seoul National University and his global colleagues are checking the viability of fighting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with their embryonic stem cell research.

Seoul National University professor Ahn Cu-rie, a close colleague of Hwang, Tuesday said the team is out to beat one of nature’s most feared killers, during the 2005 Seoul Bio-Medi Symposium.

``We are studying whether or not we will be able to use our stem cell research to cure AIDS. We are checking the assumption that AIDS patients’ immune systems can be resurrected by attacking the receptors,’’ Ahn said.

AIDS refers to a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the depletion of the immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Professor Gerald Schatten at the University of Pittsburgh showed how Hwang’s research can be used to fight AIDS, which claims millions of lives annually.

``We will be able to make a person to have immunity against HIV through blocking HIV receptors from infecting him. Then his somatic cells can be cloned to produce HIV-resistant cells,’’ Schatten said.

He added he is not sure of the success of the new therapy but it would provide hope for AIDS sufferers. Even though treatment for AIDS exists, there is no cure.

Last year, Hwang proved that it is possible to clone somatic stem cells and harvest embryonic stem cell batches from them.

Hosted by Korea International Trade Association, the 2005 Seoul Bio-Medi Symposium brought the world’s illustrious embryologists to discuss the emerging area of embryonic stem cell research.

voc200@koreatimes.co.kr