Herpes Virus Could be Destroyed Through The Help of Gene Editing

Herpes virus could be prevented and now a hundred percent can be rid off from a person's body via gene editing, a new study claims.

Herpes virus is worse than colds as it could cause shingles that could lead to blindness, birth defects, and cancer. Naturally, herpes viruses are combatted by blocking the enzyme that they need to replicate. Although this could keep the level of the virus in one's body down, it does not completely wipe out the infection.

Robert Jan Lebbink of the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands, claims that gene editing could just destroy the viruses in a person's body. New Scientist reported that he and his colleagues are developing a therapy that could safely clear certain herpes viruses thru gene editing. Lebbink and his team have been experimenting with CRISPR, the gene-editing technique that is being used to CUT DNA at precise points.

CRISPR reportedly introduces mutations or errors on the organism or virus that is snipped or cut. The DNA, however, is repaired. CRISPR cutting viral DNA in two or more places means that it could not be repaired properly so if viruses are cut the same way as the DNA is, the virus could possibly be unable to function.

Lebbink and his team have tried the technique on a monkey and a human cell infected with Epstein-Barr virus. The Epstein-Barr virus is a herpes virus that causes glandular fever. It is also associated with a number of cancers.

The team then cut the DNA in one spot and found out that the viral activity was reduced to around 50 percent. When it was cut in two places, it lead to 95 percent viral activity being lost from the cell. They also found out that it has little effect on human cells that host the virus.

When they tested it on an HSV-1 virus, the most common virus associated to cold sores, they found out that it was more resistant to CRISPR but the cutting prevented it from replicating.

Lebbink shared, "Delivery and safety are key issues that need to be solved." They are still working on the matter.