Earth Essences.Com

HIV breakthrough as new technology removes all traces of virus from infected cells

The discovery of how to snip HIV out of infected cells could one day lead to a cure for the Aids-causing virus, say researchers.

Scientists eliminated HIV from cells using a gene-editing technique that won a Nobel prize in 2020. The gene-cutting technology, Crispr-Cas, removed all traces of the virus from infected cells in lab tests. Working essentially as scissors, Crispr-Cas can cut the DNA at specific points, allowing unwanted genes to be deleted. New genetic material can also be introduced.

Study lead Dr Elena Herrera-Carrillo, of Amsterdam UMC, Netherlands, said: “These findings represent a pivotal advancement towards designing a cure strategy.” But researchers said the study, presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, represents proof of concept only, and will not become a cure for HIV any time soon.

Dr Jonathan Stoye, virus expert at the Francis Crick Institute, said: “The idea of a functional cure for Aids using Crispr-Cas technology... has enormous appeal. However, the challenge of removing HIV genomes from all the cells that make up the long-lived viral reservoirs in such people is extremely challenging.

"It therefore seems likely that many years will elapse before any such CRISPR-based therapy becomes routine, even assuming that it can be shown to be effective.”