
Could one Californian woman hold the key to a cure for HIV/AIDS?
FREE Catholic Classes
Among 35 million people infected with HIV, one woman from Sacramento, California has never taken any prescription drugs, but the virus has not damaged her body, despite being diagnosed HIV positive 23 years ago. Loreen Willenberg has reportedly never been sick and has never displayed any symptoms showing the virus as taking over her immune system.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
5/11/2015 (9 years ago)
Published in Health
Keywords: HIV, AIDS, Sacramento, California, Cure, Hope, Research, CD4, CD8, Loreen Willenberg, Immunity
MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Since her body's unusual reaction to HIV, Willenberg has participated in various studies searching for a cure for HIV and AIDS.
"In a clinical sense, I'm not progressing towards AIDS. I'm not progressing towards the disease stage," said Willenberg, quoted from CBS13. She is among the few HIV-positive with bodies capable of suppressing the virus from causing damage.
"Their body has such an effective way of reacting to the virus that it's hard to even detect that they're virus positive," said Dr. Richard Pollard, Infectious Disease Specialist from UC Davis School of Medicine.
Researchers speculate that the rare non-reaction to the virus in certain people is because the CD8 T-cells within them are strong enough not to be overpowered by the virus.
As HIV kills the CD4 T-cells, the white blood cells protect the immune system; the CD8 T-cells help regulate the infection while fighting off the virus.
Without HIV damaging and taking over the CD8 cells, they prevent the virus from replicating itself and ultimately attacking the immune system.
"I haven't had a decline of CD4 cell count at all, and that's pretty magnificent, and I'm very humbled by that," said Willenberg, who is going to college to major in bioethics and still actively participates in research.
Dr. Pollard explained that studying the "elite controllers" is just one of the avenues they are taking to find the cure.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Novena for Pope Francis | FREE PDF Download
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

St. Catherine of Siena: A Fearless Voice for Christ and the Church

Conclave to Open with Most International College of Cardinals in Church History

A Symbol of Faith, Not Fashion: Cross Necklaces Find Renewed Meaning Among Young Catholics and Public Leaders
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Wednesday, April 30, 2025
St. Pius V, Pope: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Prayer to Saint Joseph for Success in Work: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Daily Readings for Tuesday, April 29, 2025
St. Catherine of Siena: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, April 29, 2025
- Prayer for the Dead # 3: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.