163
HIV cure breakthrough as virus eliminated from cells in laboratory (www.independent.co.uk)
submitted 3 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/health@lemmy.world
5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It is thanks to a gene-editing tool known as Crispr-Cas, which won the Nobel Prize in 2020

Researchers have eliminated HIV from cells in a laboratory, raising hopes of a cure.

Using a gene-editing tool known as Crispr-Cas, which won the Nobel Prize in 2020, scientists were able target HIV DNA, removing all traces of the virus from infected cells.

Working essentially as scissors, the technology can cut the DNA at certain points, allowing unwanted genes to be deleted, or new genetic material to be introduced into cells.

The study authors said their aim is to develop a robust and safe Crispr-Cas regimen, “striving for an inclusive ‘HIV cure for all’ that can inactivate diverse HIV strains across various cellular contexts”.

top 5 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] Bluefruit@lemmy.world 31 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

According to the researchers, their work represents proof of concept, and will not become a cure for HIV tomorrow.

The hope is to devise a strategy to make this system as safe as possible for future clinical applications, and achieve the right balance between efficacy and safety.Only then can we consider clinical trials of ‘cure’ in humans to disable the HIV reservoir.

“While these preliminary findings are very encouraging, it is premature to declare that there is a functional HIV cure on the horizon,” the researchers say.

[-] Chestnut@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago

Funny, this is literally what CRISPR is used for in bacteria: Fighting viruses

[-] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

The problem is that HIV viral genome hides among the host organism's genes.

[-] Pistcow@lemm.ee 6 points 3 months ago

The call is coming from within the house!

But yeah, so does cancer, but they're working that out, too.

[-] az04@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago

Relevant XKCD

this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2024
163 points (100.0% liked)

Health - Resources and discussion for everything health-related

2028 readers
45 users here now

Health: physical and mental, individual and public.

Discussions, issues, resources, news, everything.

See the pinned post for a long list of other communities dedicated to health or specific diagnoses. The list is continuously updated.

Nothing here shall be taken as medical or any other kind of professional advice.

Commercial advertising is considered spam and not allowed. If you're not sure, contact mods to ask beforehand.

Linked videos without original description context by OP to initiate healthy, constructive discussions will be removed.

Regular rules of lemmy.world apply. Be civil.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
WhoRoger@lemmy.world
RoyalEngineering@lemmy.world
Awa@lemmy.world