Disease Focus: HIV/AIDS


Genetic modification of the human genome to resist HIV-1 infection and/or disease progression

The proposed studies describe the genetic approaches utilizing human embryonic stem cells to suppress and/or eliminate the expression of the human protein CCR5. CCR5 is found on the surface of white blood cells. HIV-1 attaches to CCR5 and uses CCR5 to enter into its target cells. Our approach is to utilize established as well as […]

GENE-MODIFIED HEMATOPOIETIC STEM/PROGENITOR CELL BASED THERAPY FOR HIV DISEASE

HPSC based therapy for HIV disease using RNAi to CCR5.

RNA interference is a naturally occurring means to block the function of genes in our body. We propose that RNA interference can be used to block HIV-1 infection and its reproduction within the body. When RNA interference is introduced into a stem cell, its blocking activity will be present throughout the lifetime of the stem […]

ZINC FINGER NUCLEASE-BASED STEM CELL THERAPY FOR AIDS

Some years ago it was discovered that patients homozygous for a natural mutation (the Δ32 mutation) in the CCR5 gene are generally resistant to HIV infection by blocking virus entry to a cell. Building on this observation, a study published in 2009 reported a potential “cure” in an AIDS patient with leukemia after receiving a […]

Evaluation of Safety and Feasibility of Cytomegalovirus-Specific, Anti-HIV Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CMV/HIV-CAR) T Cells in People with HIV

Phase 1 Clinical research program for functional cure of HIV with EBT-101, in-vivo gene therapy

Anti-HIV duoCAR-T cell therapy for HIV infection

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is conducting a clinical trial that modifies a patient’s own immune cells in order to treat and potentially cure HIV.  Current treatment of HIV involves the use of long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART).  However, many people are not able to access and adhere to long-term ART. The team will […]

Stem Cell Gene Therapy for HIV Mediated by Lentivector Transduced, Pre-selected CD34+ Cells in AIDS lymphoma patients

A team at UC Davis is taking a patient’s blood forming stem cells and inserting three anti-HIV genes into them and then returning them to the individual to help rebuild their immune system. The anti-HIV genes are then passed on to all new immune system cells, which makes them resistant to HIV. Because AIDS-related lymphoma is linked […]

A Phase I, Open-Label Study To Assess The Safety, Feasibility and Engraftment of Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFN) CCR5 Modified Autologous CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells (SB-728MR-HSPC) with Escalating Doses of Busulfan In HIV-1 (R5) Infected Subjects with Suboptimal CD4 Levels on cART

A team at City of Hope and Sangamo Therapeutics is genetically modifying patients’ blood forming stem cells to functionally cure people with HIV. The team is using a technology called zinc finger nucleases – a kind of molecular scissors – to snip out the target gene that codes for the CCR5 receptor. This receptor is the gateway for […]

GENE-MODIFIED HEMATOPOIETIC STEM/PROGENITOR CELL BASED THERAPY FOR HIV DISEASE

Calimmune is genetically modifying patients’ own blood-forming stem cells (also known as bone marrow stem cells) so they can produce immune cells—the ones normally destroyed by the HIV virus—that cannot be infected by the virus. The goal of this treatment is to enable the patients to clear their systems of the virus, effectively curing the […]