Scientists have reported a breakthrough in HIV treatment, claiming to have effectively removed the virus from infected cells using Crispr gene-editing technology, which earned its creators a Nobel Prize. Operating like molecular scissors, Crispr edits DNA to excise or deactivate problematic segments.
While the ultimate goal is to completely eliminate HIV from the body, further research is essential to ensure safety and efficacy. Although current HIV medications can suppress the virus, they cannot eradicate it.
Presenting a summary of their early findings at a medical conference, researchers from the University of Amsterdam caution that their work is still in the proof-of-concept stage and is far from being a cure for HIV.
Dr. James Dixon, an associate professor specializing in stem-cell and gene-therapy technologies at the University of Nottingham, underscores the need for thorough examination of the complete findings. He emphasizes that demonstrating these results in cell assays is just the beginning, and extensive research is required to translate them into a viable therapy for the entire body.
“There will be much more development needed before this could have an impact on those with HIV,” stated Dr. Jonathan Stoye, a virus expert at the Francis Crick Institute in London, regarding the recent advances in Crispr technology against HIV.
Other scientists are also exploring the use of Crispr in combating HIV. Excision BioTherapeutics reported that three volunteers with HIV showed no serious side effects after 48 weeks of treatment.
However, Dr. Stoye emphasized the significant challenges involved in removing HIV from all potential reservoirs in the body. He raised concerns about off-target effects and potential long-term side effects of the treatment.
“Even assuming that it can be shown to be effective, it seems likely that many years will elapse before any such Crispr-based therapy becomes routine,” he added.
HIV infects and targets immune system cells, exploiting their machinery to replicate itself.
Despite effective treatment, some individuals enter a latent state, where the virus remains dormant in their cells, containing HIV DNA even if not actively replicating. This latent reservoir poses a challenge as it can lead to resurgence of the virus if antiretroviral therapy is discontinued.
While a few cases of apparent HIV cure have been reported, such as through aggressive cancer therapy that inadvertently eliminated some infected cells, this approach is not a recommended HIV treatment strategy. Most individuals with HIV require lifelong antiretroviral therapy to manage the virus and prevent its progression.
