USE OF CRISPR/CAS9 TECHNOLOGY TO INACTIVATE HIV DNA IN HUMAN CELLS

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a persistent challenge in modern medicine, mainly due to the virus’s ability to integrate its genome into host cell DNA and establish latent reservoirs that are not eliminated by combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Given the limitations of current therapies, gene-editing technologies such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system have emerged as a promising approach to permanently remove or inactivate proviral DNA. This review aims to examine recent advances in the use of CRISPR/Cas9 for HIV inactivation, discussing mechanisms of action, results observed in cellular and animal models, main technical limitations, and challenges for clinical application. Preclinical studies demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9 can recognize and cleave highly conserved viral sequences, reducing or eliminating the virus's replicative capacity. However, obstacles such as viral escape mutations, delivery efficiency, and risks of off-target effects still limit its therapeutic application. It is concluded that although promising, the technology still requires improvement to enable a functional or sterilizing HIV cure.