HIV is one of the dreaded diseases in the society. This illness is malignant that it can bring one's immune system down that leads self-healing a struggle. However, according to reports, there are HIV positive individuals that suffer no symptoms at all, they are the "elite controllers."
What Is An Elite Controller?
According to AidsMap, one in 200 people with HIV maintains an undetectable viral load and high CD4 counts without having to take antiretroviral therapy (ART) and they are the "elite controllers." Elite controllers have been the target of research on how their immune systems control HIV replication.
Meanwhile, per Bordermail, the rate of the elite controller is one in about 1000 people with HIV. "People that find out that they're HIV-positive hope they're one of these people but only one in 1000 with HIV is actually that person. They think they've won the lottery," said Professor Stephen Kent, an immunologist and infectious diseases expert.
According to Dr. Ivan Stratov, elite controllers produce a lot of something that others don't. They have this antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) antibodies, which is believed to be the missing link to developing a vaccine that can cure HIV.
"Elite controllers produce a special type of antibody that is able to kill HIV very effectively," Kent said. "They're not cured but they're controlling it without drugs, which is the next best thing."
Disadvantage of Being An Elite Controller
Although elite controllers are able to control the progress of HIV, they face another struggle. Per Aids Map, the health of elite controllers is poorer compared to HIV positive individuals with CD4 counts of over 350 cells/mm3 and even with of some people with detectable viral loads.
Per NCBI, elite controllers have higher hospitalization rates for cardiovascular disease than HIV positive individuals taking antiretroviral therapy. Cardiovascular diseases are the cause of 30 percent hospital admissions for elite controllers but less than 15 percent for those taking antiretrovirals.
However, many are still positive about ADCC antibodies' potential in targeting HIV. "ADCC targets the cells in which the virus is living and if you can kill the cells, well then you disable the virus," Stratov said.
Do you agree that being an elite controller is an advantage? Are you hopeful that ADCC would be a big help in controlling HIV? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
