Scientists 'delete' HIV virus from human DNA for the first time (Video)

[Playinghardball]

Scientists used a DNA-snipping enzyme called Cas9 to cut out the virus
The cell's gene repair machinery then takes over, soldering the loose ends of the genome back together – resulting in a virus-free cell
Process could also be a cure for other latent infections, researchers say
'It's an exciting discovery, but not ready to go into the clinic,' said Dr Khalili
Once HIV conquers a human cell, it will stay there forever.

It inserts its deadly genome permanently into its victims' DNA, forcing them to require medical treatment for the rest of their life.

But now, for the first time, researchers in Philadelphia have found a way to completely delete HIV from human cells by ‘snipping’ them out.



This is one important step on the path toward a permanent cure for AIDS,' said Kamel Khalili, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Temple.

'It's an exciting discovery, but it's not yet ready to go into the clinic. It's a proof of concept that we're moving in the right direction,' he added,


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2701304/Scientists-delete-HIV-virus-human-DNA-time.html#ixzz3TSVkffBx

[Xipe Totec]

1. Besides the magnificent scientific advance, this shows the myopic stupidity of Regan

When he said that AIDS was a gay disease, so why invest money in finding a cure.

Putting aside the outrageous stupidity of that position, this research is now leading us to find cures far beyond the original scope of the quest. Not only are we finding a cure for AIDS, but a cure for viral diseases in general. None of this would have been possible, if we had ignored AIDS research because it "Only affects teh gay".