When a person’s immune system is impaired by a genetic disease, a bone-marrow transplant is the best treatment. However, it has a major downside to it. The recipient is highly vulnerable to viruses and infections caused by them, during the first few months of the transplant. Slightest of infection can lead to hospitalisation.

However, hope has emerged in the form of T-Cell therapy which aims to assist the body during this vulnerable time period while it is rebuilding its natural defences. The therapy, which has gone through two decades of clinical trials, is still at experimental stage.

The technology has been refined, and is being used to treat more and more patients worldwide, especially children.

This therapeutic approach of boosting body’s immune system using cells from a donor or one’s own genetically modified cells, is known as immunotherapy.

It’s main use so far has been against cancer but doctors hope it will soon become available against viruses for patients suffering from depressed immune system.