A cure for HIV and AIDS could be available in just a few years, thanks to a groundbreaking scientific experiment that has shown that it is possible to cleanse infected cells of the virus and stop disease recurrence.
The HIV virus attacks and destroys the cells of the immune system, completely depriving the patient of the ability to defend himself against other infections. It turns out, however, that thanks to state-of-the-art “gene editing” technology, the virus can literally be cut out of the DNA of cells.
The experiment has so far been carried out only in laboratory conditions, but the researchers from the Lewis Katz at Temple University in Philadelphia believe they will be able to begin clinical trials in humans within three years.
According to British experts, the therapy developed by the Americans will effectively “modify the body so that it heals itself from within”. HIV drug research organizations hailed the discovery as an exciting breakthrough.
It seems essential that no other part of the genetic code has been altered in the cells of the human immune system used in the laboratory experiment. Scientists feared that introducing modifications to DNA would initiate a chain of changes that could prove harmful or even fatal to humans.
– For the first time, it was possible to completely eliminate HIV from the genome in laboratory conditions – says Prof. Kamel Khalili, who led the experiment. – This means that we should be able to eliminate it also in the human body.
– The discovery is important on many levels. First of all, it confirms that our method of gene editing effectively eliminates HIV from the DNA of immune cells and permanently inhibits the multiplication of the virus.
– Moreover, the experiment proved that this system can protect cells from reinfection. The method is safe for cells and has no harmful effects.
– This discovery has great potential. The results of the experiment suggest that we will begin clinical trials in humans within three years.
There are over 100 HIV-positive people in Great Britain, and about 600 patients die each year.
The antiretroviral drugs available today are fairly effective in controlling the infection, but patients must take them for the rest of their lives – stopping treatment causes the virus to multiply rapidly, leading to the development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, over time.
A new gene editing technique, called CRISPR / Cas9, locates the genetic code of HIV that integrates into cells of the immune system.
First, the Cas9 protein is modified to recognize the virus code. Blood is taken from the patient and the Cas9 protein is inserted into it, which searches for cells of the immune system that contain the HIV genome. After reaching the chosen place of the genome and cutting the DNA chain, the enzyme removes the sequence and in effect inactivates the virus. The healthy modified cells are then returned to the patient.
According to scientists, the elimination of the virus from the body takes place after replacing 20 percent. infected cells of the immune system with genetically modified cells.
Prof. Khalili explains that it is probably also possible to co-administer the protein with HIV drugs – such therapy could end once the virus is cleared from the cells.
Combining this therapy with current antiviral therapies seems to make sense. It can be expected that after a certain period of treatment, even after stopping antiviral therapy, the disease will not relapse, because the new strategy will completely eliminate the virus, the researcher explains.
After the virus is removed, the cut strands of DNA stick together by a mechanism that joins the ends of the DNA sequence together, and the patient receives the purified cells back.
«This is an important step forward. This is part of a large group of studies that use these new techniques mainly to attack HIV, but also many other diseases »- commented prof. Matthew Cobb of the University of Manchester in an interview with “Today” on British Radio 4. “This technology allows you to modify genes. Thanks to it, the body can be programmed to heal itself from the inside ».
Shaun Griffin, director of the Terrence Higgins Trust, an organization focused on HIV and AIDS, added: “This exciting laboratory study proves that HIV can be effectively eliminated from the DNA of human immune cells. We hope that further research will reduce the number of viral cells in HIV-positive people, as was done in the laboratory ».
The results of the experiment are published by the Scientific Reports platform associated with the journal “Nature”.
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the human immune system and weakens the body’s defense against infection and disease.
How is HIV different from AIDS?
HIV infection has three stages:
1. Acute phase – Early stage, covering the first weeks after infection, and characterized by flu-like symptoms. The virus multiplies rapidly in the body.
2. Asymptomatic infection phase – The duration of this phase can be very long. The virus grows slowly, no clinical signs associated with infection.
3. Symptomatic phase of AIDS disease – The most advanced stage of HIV infection. There is a sharp decrease in the number of cells of the immune system, and the unprotected organism is exposed to various pathogens.
How is HIV transmitted?
The most common infection occurs during anal and vaginal sex without a condom (95% of infections in the UK in 2013 were the result of sexual contact). Virus infection can also occur through the bloodstream: when using a contaminated needle or syringe, or during medical, cosmetic or tattoo procedures performed with non-sterile equipment. HIV can be passed from an infected mother to her child, for example during breastfeeding.
How many people are carriers?
Worldwide, about 35 million. In the UK in 2013, there were over 100 HIV-positive people.
Can HIV be treated?
For now, there is no cure for HIV, but there are treatments that allow most people with the virus to live normal, healthy lives for many years.