HIV/AIDS: A new enzyme is capable of removing HIV-proviruses from infected cells
Researchers at the Heinrich Pette Institute, Hamburg, and at the Dresden Technical University (TUD) succeeded in developing a designer enzyme that is capable of specifically removing the provirus from infected cells of most primary HIV-1 isolates. Recombinase Brec1 might represent a promising candidate for HIV cure. The results have now been published in the renowned Journal „Nature Biotechnology“.
Even though enormous advances have been made in HIV treatment, a complete cure from the disease is still not possible. Indeed, the propagation of the virus in the body can nowadays be held in check through medication, but the provirus remains present in cells of the body.
A team of researchers from the research unit ‘Antiviral Strategies’ at the HPI in Hamburg as well as the Department of Medical Systems Biology at the TUD employed directed molecular evolution to generate a designer recombinase (Brec1), which can precisely remove the provirus from the majority (>90%) of clinical HIV-1 isolates found in humans.
Importantly, the antiviral effects were accomplished without measurable cytotoxic or genotoxic side effects. Based on these findings, Brec1 represents a promising candidate for possible applications in improved HIV therapies.
“The obtained results represent a solid basis for first clinical trials aimed at HIV cure, which we plan to initiate”, explains the head of the HPI group, Prof Joachim Hauber, who also works in HIV cure strategies under the umbrella of DZIF.
