Updates on CRISPR-based gene editing in HIV-1/AIDS therapy

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Virology
• Gene Therapy

Background:

• HIV-1/AIDS remains a global health threat despite advances in combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).
• cART suppresses HIV-1 replication but cannot eliminate integrated proviral DNA, necessitating lifelong treatment with potential side effects.
• Current gene-editing tools show promise for HIV-1/AIDS treatment, but challenges remain for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in gene-editing technologies for HIV-1/AIDS therapy.
• To identify novel gene-editing targets based on HIV-1 molecular mechanisms.
• To discuss future strategies, applications, and challenges of CRISPR-based gene targeting for HIV-1/AIDS.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent studies on HIV-1/AIDS gene therapy.
• Analysis of gene-editing tools including CRISPR/Cas9, base editors, prime editors, and others.
• Exploration of molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 infection to identify new targets.

Main Results:

• CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) and related systems are effective for HIV-1 gene therapy.
• Emerging tools like base editing and prime editing offer enhanced precision for pathogen detection and disease correction.
• Identification of potential new gene-editing targets and strategies for future HIV-1/AIDS treatment.

Conclusions:

• Gene-editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-based systems, represent a promising avenue for HIV-1/AIDS therapy.
• Further research is needed to address challenges and optimize these tools for safe and effective clinical use.
• Alternative solutions are proposed to enhance gene targeting practices in HIV-1/AIDS gene therapy.