DUTCH SCIENTISTS HAVE DEVELOPED A BREAKTHROUGH METHOD TO FIGHT HERPES

Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to suppress the virus's life support system, the researchers have created a method that limits the productive and latent forms of the virus, reduces their activity, and removes some forms of herpes virus from the body, completely.

Dutch biologists have tested their new genetic technology, which suppresses virus resistance genes, on three most common types of virus: herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). If we talk about the third type of virus, then during the study the amount of virus in the cells was reduced by 95%.

Human cytomegalovirus has also been significantly suppressed. Some types of the virus stopped their active phase of reproduction, but they remained in the cells in the latent form.

It is known that the herpes virus remains in the human body for life. Today’s drugs only eliminate the clinical symptoms of the virus, but they can not remove the virus from the body, completely.

The genetic technology proposed by Dutch biologists using CRISPR/Cas9 suppresses productive and latent herpes infections by identifying and inhibiting genes that provide unique virus resistance.

SOURCE: PLOS