WBRZ - Baton Rouge

Scientists say they used genetic engineering in six patients to develop blood cells that are resistant to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

They report encouraging results in an experiment that deletes a gene that allows the virus to infect blood cells.

The concept is based on a man who seems to be cured of AIDS after he got blood cells from a donor with natural immunity in a transplant four years ago in Germany.

The research was presented at a conference in Boston.

Researchers say even if the gene therapy doesn't eliminate the virus, they hope it might repair the immune system enough that AIDS drugs are no longer needed.