Breakthrough: Scientists eradicate HIV from cells

Researchers have made strides in combating HIV by leveraging the groundbreaking Crispr gene-editing technology, awarded the Nobel Prize, to excise the virus from infected cells. This advanced technology operates akin to molecular scissors, enabling the precise cutting of DNA to deactivate or eliminate harmful segments.

Although these initial steps represent significant progress, the scientific community acknowledges the need for extensive research to ensure the method’s efficacy and safety before it can eradicate the virus from patients entirely. Current HIV treatments can suppress the virus but are unable to completely remove it from the body.

This pioneering research was introduced by a team from the University of Amsterdam through an abstract at a scientific conference, cautioning that this is merely a preliminary “proof of concept” and far from being a viable HIV cure.

Dr. James Dixon, an associate professor specializing in stem-cell and gene therapy at the University of Nottingham, remarked on the necessity of thorough evaluation before these findings can translate into a treatment. He highlighted the significant development and testing that remains before this approach could benefit individuals living with HIV.

The potential of Crispr technology in HIV treatment is also being explored by other researchers. Excision BioTherapeutics reported that their HIV trial volunteers experienced no severe side effects after 48 weeks.

Despite these advances, Dr. Jonathan Stoye from the Francis Crick Institute in London pointed out the considerable challenge of purging HIV from every infected cell in the body. He also raised concerns about the potential for unintended consequences of the treatment, which could have lasting adverse effects. Stoye cautioned that it might take many years before Crispr-based treatments for HIV could become standard, assuming their effectiveness can be demonstrated.

HIV targets and infects the immune system’s cells, hijacking their machinery to replicate itself. Even with successful treatment, the cells can still harbor HIV’s DNA, making it possible for the virus to reactivate if antiretroviral therapy is discontinued. Therefore, individuals with HIV typically require lifelong antiretroviral treatment to manage the virus.