Researchers at the University of Alberta have shed light on a gene that may be used to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS to uninfected cells, the Edmonton Sun reports (edmuntonsun.com, 2/28).

According to the article, the gene in question is called TRIM22. Researcher Stephen Barr began his work on the HIV-stopping gene at the University of Pennsylvania. Barr continued his research in Alberta, Canada and found TRIM22 may be useful in future vaccine or cure development.

“This gene works particularly at preventing the virus from getting out of cells. So it can’t stop the virus from getting in [to the cell], but it can lock it in so it can’t get out,” Barr told the Sun. “If it can’t get out of the cell, the spread of HIV is stopped in its tracks.”