Scientists say they can cut HIV out of cells | BBC News

Summary

Scientists have made a breakthrough in combating HIV using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, which has won the Nobel Prize. The goal is to completely eradicate the virus from the body. While current treatments can manage HIV and prevent AIDS, they cannot eliminate the virus entirely. The CRISPR method aims to cut out the virus from cells, targeting its latent reservoir. Although experiments are still in the cellular stage, there is optimism about its potential in future treatments. Challenges remain, such as understanding the scale of the viral reservoir and determining the extent of elimination needed for a cure.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Scientists have used CRISPR gene-editing technology to eliminate HIV from infected cells in an experimental setting.
• 💊 Current HIV treatments can control the virus and prevent AIDS, but they do not eliminate the virus completely.
• 😴 HIV can infect cells, go dormant, and persist for a long time, only to reactivate and cause problems if medication is stopped.
• 🔍 CRISPR-Cas9 technology has the potential to specifically target and cut the HIV virus within cells.
• 🧬 The enzyme delivered by CRISPR is guided by 'guide RNA' to ensure specificity in targeting the virus.
• 🐁 Experiments have so far been conducted on cells, not yet in humans or primates.
• 🔮 There is hope that CRISPR technology could be used in the future to eliminate HIV from the body's latent reservoir.
• 🤔 The exact number of HIV-infected cells that need to be eliminated to cure AIDS is unknown.
• 🐕 Studies in animals have shown the potential for significant reduction in the viral reservoir, but the implications for human treatment are still unclear.
• 🚫 A major challenge is determining if reducing the viral reservoir by a certain percentage is enough to prevent AIDS from recurring.
• 🔄 Ongoing research is crucial to understand the viral reservoir and the potential of CRISPR technology in HIV treatment.

Q & A

What breakthrough have scientists achieved using CRISPR gene-editing technology?

Scientists have successfully eliminated HIV from infected cells using CRISPR gene-editing technology.

Why is the elimination of HIV from infected cells significant?

Eliminating HIV from infected cells is significant because it could potentially lead to a cure for HIV, removing the virus entirely from the body.

What is the role of the enzyme in the CRISPR-Cas9 technology?

The enzyme in CRISPR-Cas9 technology is designed to cut the HIV virus specifically within the infected cells, targeting the virus with precision.

Why is further research necessary before this technology can be used in humans?

Further research is necessary to ensure that the technology is safe and effective, particularly in understanding the viral reservoir and whether all infected cells need to be eliminated to prevent the recurrence of AIDS.

What challenges remain in using CRISPR to cure HIV?

Challenges include understanding the viral reservoir in the body, determining how many infected cells need to be eliminated to prevent reactivation, and ensuring the technology's safety and effectiveness.

What is the viral reservoir, and why is it important in the context of HIV treatment?

The viral reservoir refers to the cells in which HIV can remain dormant and persist for a long time. It is important because if any of these cells survive, they can reactivate the virus, leading to the recurrence of AIDS.

How effective has CRISPR technology been in eliminating the viral reservoir in animal studies?

In animal studies, CRISPR technology has shown to eliminate 70-90% of the viral reservoir, but it is unclear if this is sufficient to prevent the recurrence of AIDS.

What would happen if only a small percentage of the viral reservoir remains after treatment?

If only a small percentage of the viral reservoir remains, it could potentially reactivate and cause AIDS again, which is why eliminating the entire reservoir is crucial.

What are the next steps in developing CRISPR technology for HIV treatment?

The next steps include further research to understand the viral reservoir better, improving the targeting and safety of CRISPR technology, and conducting more studies to determine its effectiveness in humans.

Why is there optimism about the future use of CRISPR technology in treating HIV?

There is optimism because CRISPR technology offers a targeted and potentially effective way to eliminate HIV from the body, which could lead to a cure for the virus in the future.