Here’s what’s interesting about this: HIV is a retrovirus. That means it integrates itself in your DNA. This approach edits the virus in your DNA. The downside is that, like most recombinant viruses, hiv mutates often. This would have to be tailored.
The other, bigger issue is that this only removes the virus in DNA. The virus RNA and packages to turn it into DNA and reinsert it need to be delt with before it can be cured.
In achieving a true cure, you would have to achieve both steps. Considering our previous success was to off all your bone marrow and replace it, this is a promising approach.
The entire origin of CRISPR is an immune defense mechanism against DNA based bacteriophages(bacteria don’t have a nucleus so they can’t have a retrovirus). It’s just cool that we’re able to use bacteria immune strategies in our own cells.
Here’s what’s interesting about this: HIV is a retrovirus. That means it integrates itself in your DNA. This approach edits the virus in your DNA. The downside is that, like most recombinant viruses, hiv mutates often. This would have to be tailored.
The other, bigger issue is that this only removes the virus in DNA. The virus RNA and packages to turn it into DNA and reinsert it need to be delt with before it can be cured.
In achieving a true cure, you would have to achieve both steps. Considering our previous success was to off all your bone marrow and replace it, this is a promising approach.
I’m pretty excited. Sad it took 40 years though
Sure, but this approach could’ve never been achieved without CRISPR. That basic research was the lynchpin that may allow gene editing in the future.
Imagine if scientists working on cures had the budget of the US military…
There are plenty of retro viruses i would hope these could apply to.
The entire origin of CRISPR is an immune defense mechanism against DNA based bacteriophages(bacteria don’t have a nucleus so they can’t have a retrovirus). It’s just cool that we’re able to use bacteria immune strategies in our own cells.