<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A landmark Australian study may have found a treatment and cure for a virus that impacts 10 million people worldwide.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Human T-Cell leukaemia type 1 (HTLV-1) is a life-threatening virus that impacts the immune system and the blood cells involved in fighting off infection within the body.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Research on HTLV-1 has been sparse, but a study conducted by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and the Doherty Institute in Melbourne has found existing drugs used to treat HIV can also help suppress HTLV-1.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/greg-josephson-universal-store-cofounder-family-shuts-down-cafe-noosa-noosa-general-store-and-eumundi-sourdough-co/6e933c8c-1cc2-4391-b876-bf71a1c22c06" target="_blank"><strong><span>Family of slain Universal Store co-founder forced to make 'tough call'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study, which took place over 10 years, saw mice infected with human immune cells susceptible to HTLV-1 infections. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, when the mice were then treated with two well-known antiviral therapies - tenofovir and dolutegravir - the results showed the drugs were also able to significantly suppress HTLV-1.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study also found the cells could be selectively killed when the mice were treated with these drugs.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cure-to-deadly-virus-affecting-10-million-australia-study/69080296-61fe-4cda-a444-00bcb951364c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Co-lead author and WEHI laboratory head Dr Marcel Doerflinger praised the development as a huge step in the right direction for finding a long-term treatment and cure to a highly prevalent disease.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What's most exciting is that these antivirals are already in use for millions of HIV patients, meaning there's a direct path for the clinical translation of our findings," Doerflinger said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We won't have to start from scratch because we already know these drugs are safe and effective. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And now we've shown that their use can very likely be extended to HTLV-1."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study also found the cells could be selectively killed when the mice were treated with these drugs, further emphasising the potential for a cure to HTLV-1.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/reserve-bank-reasons-hold-interest-rates-july-meeting-minutes/46c99c85-a17f-4598-a022-f1a637838457" target="_blank"><strong><span>RBA reveals exactly why it kept interest rates on hold in shock decision</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is particularly important for First Nations communities in parts of Central Australia, who have been impacted by a particularly aggressive strain of the virus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Professor Damian Purcell of the Doherty Institute said the study would help experts in fighting both HTLV-1 and other similar diseases.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is a real opportunity to prevent the transmission of HTLV-1 and end the diseases caused by these infections," Purcell said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our research findings are a major leap forward in this."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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