Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 26: In a significant breakthrough, scientists at Johns Hopkins University have discovered that gene therapy could be a key to forcing HIV into a permanent dormant state, potentially offering a long-term, durable treatment for the virus that causes AIDS.

The study focused on a naturally occurring molecule within HIV’s genetic makeup called an “antisense transcript” (AST). Researchers found that by manipulating and amplifying AST, they could push the virus into viral latency—a condition where HIV remains in the body but stops replicating.

“This molecule essentially helps put HIV to sleep,” said Fabio Romerio, Associate Professor of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “Our goal is to enhance this natural mechanism through gene therapy, possibly enabling long-term viral suppression with just a single treatment.”

This approach marks a major shift from the current standard of care. Presently, people living with HIV must rely on daily antiretroviral therapy to keep the virus from multiplying and spreading. While effective, these medications require lifelong adherence and can come with both short- and long-term side effects.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 39.9 million people globally live with HIV, and 630,000 die each year from HIV-related illnesses.

The researchers hope that harnessing AST through gene therapy could eventually eliminate the need for continuous medication and pave the way toward a functional cure.

The next steps involve further preclinical testing and exploring ways to safely and effectively deliver the therapy in humans. If successful, this development could represent a revolutionary stride in the decades-long battle against HIV/AIDS.