Researchers say a new genetically modified rice can prevent infections of HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS. The researchers recently published their findings in a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The team included scientists from America, Britain and Spain. The study reports the newly-developed rice produces proteins that attach directly to the HIV virus. This process prevents the virus from mixing with human cells. The scientists say this can neutralize the virus and block its transmission. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS or UNAIDS reports that worldwide, nearly 37 million people were living with HIV in 2017.