The latest issue of the journal “Blood” includes an article reporting the effectiveness of stem cells on virtually eliminating the HI virus from a patient’s system. The HIV+ patient was being treated for acute myeloid leukemia with a stem-cell transplant combined with high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy: the researchers found that his HI virus levels were undetectable, subsequent to treatment. Here’s the abstract, broken down–but for the well-versed in molecular biology, read the article in PDF–by paying for a short term loan, or get it free through a library. We won’t be celebrating yet–it is an incredibly expensive treatment, out of the reach of most if not nearly all HIV+ people in sub-Saharan Africa (or anywhere, really). The researchers also cautioned that the procedure may not be safe or feasible for the wider population. But still: it’s an “advance” that we can be happy about.–Neelika Jayawardane.