Scientists claim to have successfully removed HIV from infected cells using Nobel Prize-winning Crispr gene-editing technology.
It works similarly to scissors, but at the molecular level, cutting DNA to eliminate or inactivate “bad” portions.
The goal is to eventually be able to completely clear the body of the virus, albeit much more work is needed to ensure that it is safe and effective.
Existing HIV medications can only halt the infection, not remove it.
The University of Amsterdam team, which presented a description, or abstract, of their early findings at a medical conference this week, emphasizes that their study is only “proof of concept” and will not lead to an HIV cure anytime soon.
Dr. James Dixon, an associate professor of stem-cell and gene-therapy technologies at the University of Nottingham, feels that the entire findings need to be investigated further.
“Much more work will be needed to demonstrate results in these cell assays can happen in an entire body for a future therapy,” he added.
“There will be much more development needed before this could have impact on those with HIV.”
‘very tough’Other researchers are also attempting to employ Crispr against HIV. And Excision BioTherapeutics claims that after 48 weeks, three HIV-positive volunteers have seen no major adverse effects. And Excision BioTherapeutics claims that after 48 weeks, three HIV-positive volunteers have seen no major adverse effects.
However, Dr. Jonathan Stoye, a virus expert at the Francis Crick Institute in London, stated that eradicating HIV from all cells that may house it in the body was “extremely challenging.”
“Off-target effects of the treatment, with possible long-term side effects, remain a concern,” he added.
“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.”
HIV infects and assaults immune-system cells, utilizing their own machinery to replicate itself.
Even with adequate therapy, some slip into a resting, or latent, condition, which means they still possess HIV’s DNA, or genetic material, despite not actively producing new virus.
Most HIV patients require lifelong antiretroviral medication. If people stop taking these medications, the dormant virus may resurface and cause difficulties again.
A rare number have been supposedly “cured”, after harsh cancer therapy wiped off part of their infected cells, although this would never be suggested merely to treat HIV.