<p><br /> A discovery about the way HIV attacks the immune system could pave the way for the development of new treatments.<br /> </p><p><br /> Researchers have identified a new method in which the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes Aids, is able to prevent tetherin - a protein found naturally in human cells - from doing its job of blocking the invaders.<br /> </p><p><br /> This highly-skilled study has been carried out by a team based in Montreal in Canada.<br /> </p><p><br /> The hope now is that this information will help scientists to target certain aspects of the virus and therefore develop new anti-HIV drugs.<br /> </p><p><br /> At the moment, there is no way of knowing how much of a difference this discovery will make to HIV therapy and any such developments could take decades.<br /> </p><p><br /> Almost 33 million people around the world are thought to be living with HIV and AIDS.<br /> </p>
