Creating Resistance to HIV Via CRISPR

Creating Resistance to HIV Via CRISPR
Aug-04-2017 0 comments Cube Biosystems

Source: The Scientist, Anna Azvolinsky

Mice transplanted with human hematopoietic stem cells that have an HIV receptor gene, CCR5, disrupted by gene editing allows the animals to ward off HIV infection. 
 

A minor proportion of people harbor a homozygous mutation in CCR5, a gene that encodes a receptor found on immune cells, that thwarts HIV's attempts to get inside the cells. In an attempt to mimic this natural resistance, researchers mutated CCR5 in human fetal liver hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and showed that the cells could block HIV infection after transplantation into mice.

It should be noted that targeting CCR5 may not lead to a complete cure, as the virus is not elimated and has the potential to target different receptors, e.g. CXRC4. Yet, for now, CCR5 remains the best target.

Original Article: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated CCR5 ablation in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells confers HIV-1 resistance in vivo. Xu et al. Molecular Therapy.

 

Tags:
About the author

Related post (11)

Stunning Success for Meningitis Vaccination
Dec-07-2015 / 0 comments / Cube Biosystems

Epidemic meningitis is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, in what is termed the 'meningitis' belt, an area that stretches fro..

Current State of HIV Research
Mar-01-2016 / 0 comments / Cube Biosystems

Just where are we in terms of HIV research, what advances have we seen lately, and are we any closer to attaining that ultimate ..

Eliminating HIV-1 from the Genome of Human T-Cells
Mar-22-2016 / 0 comments / Cube Biosystems

A team at Temple University has successfully eliminated HIv-1 from human T-cells employing CRSIPR/Cas9 technology.              ..

Punch - Counterpunch: HIV Can Avoid CRISPR/Cas9 Editing
Apr-13-2016 / 0 comments / Cube Biosystems

A few weeks ago we noted that by using CRISPR/Cas9 editing, researchers were able to remove HIV from stem cells. Unfortunately, ..

Related product