Fighting the Viral Wars
Channel: Texas Science
Date: 2012-12-03

Using Legos and toy soldiers, UT-Austin biologist Chris Sullivan explains the concept of viral latency, which is a mechanism that certain viruses, including herpes and HIV, have evolved to hide from the host immune response.  

It's this ability to hide away in a "latent reservoir" that makes it impossible to cure these diseases, though they can be managed. 

Read more about how Sullivan is working to "trick" viruses into exposing themselves while latent, which could enable a true cure. http://web5.cns.utexas.edu/news/2012/11/biologist-eradicating-latent-viruses