Gene Editing Repels HIV

Denise Grady published an article in The New York Times on March 6, 2014 about a study involving the altering of genes as a way to repel HIV. In a recent study, scientists removed a protein in the patient's immune cells by a process known as gene editing. This protein is needed for the HIV virus to invade the cells. The cells were removed, treated, and then injected back into the patient's blood. The study found that immune cells could be altered with no harm to the patient. Gene editing also hinted as a possible way to fight infection. The idea is if enough cells can be altered to repel HIV then antiviral drugs would not be needed. Scientists hope this could be a cure to HIV in the future. An article about the study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. A small percent of people cannot get HIV because their immune cells lack the protein CCR5. Scientists would like to look more into this protein as a way to prevent HIV. Zinc-finger nucleases are enzymes that cut DNA. This would allow specific genes to be disabled so that people could resist HIV. A study was done in 2009 that concluded with promising results. HIV patients were injected with their own CD4T cells that had been edited to disable the CCR5 gene. Scientists are now working on a way to increase the levels of edited cells and keep them at high levels once in the patient's body in order to keep HIV levels from increasing.

HIV seen using a microscope. 

Although the studies are preliminary it is exciting to see any advancement towards the cure of HIV. It is a horrible disease that affects the lives of so many people.  My friend was adopted from an orphanage in Romania by an amazing couple and given a chance at life. There are many articles about her amazing new family and their fight for HIV awareness.  It would be a blessing if she were able to someday say she is HIV-negative. Hopefully there will be a breakthrough in research during our lifetime.