Souped-up immune cells 'catch' HIV

Genetically engineered immune cells can spot the AIDS virus even when it tries to disguise itself, offering a potential new way to treat the incurable infection, researchers reported on Sunday.

The killer T-cells, dubbed "assassin" cells, were able to recognize other cells infected by HIV and slow the spread of the virus in lab dishes.

If the approach works in people, it might provide a new route of treating infection with the deadly human imunnodeficiency virus, the researchers in the United States and Britain said.