Barcelona, April 30, 2025 — In a groundbreaking development that could shape the future of HIV treatment, scientists have successfully removed HIV — the virus that causes AIDS — from infected human cells using the gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9. The breakthrough was announced at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, held in Barcelona from April 27 to 30.
The research, led by Dr. Elena Herrera-Carrillo and her team at Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands, represents a major advance toward a potential cure for HIV. Collaborators on the project include Yuanling Bao, Zhenghao Yu, and Pascal Kroon.
CRISPR: A Precision Tool with Enormous Promise
Four years ago, Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna were awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing CRISPR/Cas9, a revolutionary gene-editing tool. CRISPR allows scientists to make highly precise changes to DNA, enabling the removal of unwanted genetic material or the insertion of new genes. It has already shown promise in treating cancer and inherited diseases.
Now, the same technology has been applied in the fight against HIV.
Targeting the Root of the Virus
HIV is a particularly difficult virus to treat because it hides in reservoir cells within the body, remaining dormant and undetectable even under antiretroviral therapy (ART). Once ART is stopped, these hidden cells can reactivate, allowing the virus to spread again.
The Amsterdam research team used CRISPR/Cas9 to target parts of the HIV genome that remain consistent across all known strains. By focusing on these “conserved regions,” they were able to remove the virus from infected T-cells — a key part of the human immune system. When HIV infects CD4+ T-helper cells, it weakens the body’s defense system by reproducing within these cells, eventually destroying them.
A Step Closer to a Cure
While the findings are still at the laboratory stage, they mark a significant step forward. The researchers aim to develop a “combinatorial CRISPR” strategy capable of neutralizing various HIV strains in multiple cell types and tissues.
“Our ultimate goal is an inclusive ‘HIV cure for all,’” said Dr. Herrera-Carrillo. “We want a therapy that works across the full spectrum of HIV variants and in all the different cells where HIV hides.”
Despite logistical challenges and the complexity of targeting dormant HIV reservoirs, the team’s success in clearing HIV from infected cells represents a major leap toward what was once thought impossible: a cure.
Global Impact
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 600,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses in 2022, with 1.3 million new infections reported that year. While current treatments can control HIV as a chronic condition, there is no permanent cure — yet.
This new development, if replicated and refined, could change that reality in the coming years.
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This story is based on findings presented at ECCMID 2025 and reflects the latest advancements in HIV research.