The struggle with incurable diseases is probably one of the first places in the world medical practice. According to official statistics, more than 35 million people on the planet are living with the most dangerous disease of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite significant advances in supportive therapy of patients, a cure for HIV is still not created. But, perhaps, the scientists from Medical school Lewis Katz managed to get closer to his creation. According to the publication Science Direct, with reference to the journal Molecular Therapy, the experts managed to completely destroy a dangerous virus in the cells of infected animals.
For the development of answer the doctor camel Khalili, about which we already wrote. Help Dr. Kamalu his colleagues, Wenhua Hu, Laura Carnell and Won Bin Jung. To make a breakthrough, scientists were able, thanks to technology the editing of the genome, commonly known as CRISPR/Cas9. For their work, the experts used several groups of mice, among whom were genetically modified rodents, in which blood was human immune cells. These mice were infected with HIV-1. As commented by Dr. Hu
“We confirmed the data from our previous work and demonstrated that it is extremely effective. For the new research we used several groups of animals: one was a carrier of the acute form of the disease, the other chronic.”
Experts managed to deactivate the HIV-1 and 65-95% reduction in the expression of RNA. In the case of the use of CRISPR/Cas9 on infected rodents method proved to be effective in 96% of cases. During only one stage of gene editing viral segments have been completely removed from human cells. Scientists have managed to overcome the virus in the spleen, lung, heart, intestine and brain of mice. As stated by the authors of the study, the next stage of their trials are experiments on primates, but the ultimate goal of the experiment — the complete clinical studies on humans and create a working drug.
With the help of genetic engineering managed to eliminate HIV in animals
Vladimir Kuznetsov