Previously Dr. Khalili's team developed a method using CRISPR technology to develop a gene editing system which aims to remove HIV DNA from genomes that contain it, named CRISPR Cas9. This system proved effective in mice as it was able to remove large fragments of HIV DNA which greatly slowed HIV expression. However, this can only slow HIV, not eliminate it.
In this study Khalili combined this system with another antiretroviral therapeutic strategy known as LASER (long acting slow effective release) He hypothesized that LASER ART could suppress HIV replication long enough for CRISPR Cas9 to excise the viral DNA. To test this theory, the team used mice engineered to produce human T cells susceptible to HIV infection. These cells were then treated with LASER ART prior to treatment using CRISPR Cas9. After the treatment cycle genomes of mice were then analyzed and it was found that HIV DNA had been completely eliminated in roughly 1/3 of infected mice. Khalili says that after this finding the path to curing HIV now becomes more clear and he plans to further test this system on primates and is optimistic that human clinical trials could begin within the next year.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190702112844.htm
This article is fascinating because the potential removal of HIV would drastically change the lives of the individuals infected. Perhaps by slowing the HIV in the original method, scientists will be able to create a better way to removal it all together, like this study. However, I do think it is really important that the CRISPR cas9 was created because if the other trial cannot be completed quickly, it will be essential that infected people have the ability to slow it down with this technique. If human trials begin this year with the LASER ART we could possibly remove the disease all together. Not only would this help those infected, but also get rid of the fear others have of getting infected.
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