Pioneering Israeli researchers have developed a unique new way to defeat HIV with just a simple injection, which may yet become a vaccine against the deadly virus.

In a study conducted on animals, scientists working at Tel Aviv University have become the first in the world to engineer white blood cells within a patient’s body to combat the virus.

Their breakthrough discovery could pave the way to treat other viral diseases, including cervical, head and neck cancer.

While advances in treatment over the last few decades have meant that it is perfectly possible to live a normal life with HIV, there is still no permanent cure for the illness.

One possible way to do so is by using a one-time injection that utilises type B white blood cells, say lead researchers Dr Adi Barzel and Alessio Nehmad.

B cells, which are formed in bone marrow, are a type of white blood cells responsible for generating antibodies against viruses and bacteria.

After injection they could then be genetically engineered inside the patient’s body to secrete antibodies that fight HIV.

Dr Barzel said: "We developed an innovative treatment that may defeat the virus with a one time injection, with the potential of bringing about tremendous improvement in the patient's condition.

“When the engineered B cells encounter the virus, the virus stimulates and encourages them to divide, so we are utilising the very cause of the disease to combat it. 

“Furthermore, if the virus changes, the B cells will also change accordingly in order to combat it, so we have created the first medication ever that can evolve in the body and defeat viruses in the 'arms race'.”

Before now, “a few” scientists have been able to engineer B cells outside the body, Dr Barzel added.

This is the first time however that they have been developed inside a patient.

“All model animals who had been administered the treatment responded and had high quantities of the desired antibody in their blood,” Dr Barzel added.

“We produced the antibody from the blood and made sure it was actually effective in neutralising the HIV virus in the lab dish."