The Role of CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Eradicating Latent HIV Reservoirs in Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): A Scoping Review 

Mugo Moses H.

School of Natural and Applied Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The persistence of latent HIV reservoirs remains a major barrier to achieving a cure for HIV, despite the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in suppressing viral replication. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based gene editing has emerged as a promising tool for targeting and eliminating these reservoirs, offering a novel approach to HIV eradication. This scoping review explored the potential role of CRISPR-based gene editing in eradicating latent HIV reservoirs in patients on ART. It synthesized evidence from preclinical and clinical studies, discussing key mechanisms such as proviral DNA excision, gene disruption, and host gene modulation. Preclinical studies have shown successful excision of integrated HIV DNA from infected cells, with significant reductions in viral load and prevention of viral rebound in animal models. However, challenges remain, including off-target effects, delivery system limitations, and concerns about long-term safety. Early-phase clinical trials focusing on ex vivo gene editing have begun, offering insights into the feasibility of CRISPR-based therapies in humans. This review also addressed the ethical, regulatory, and technical challenges in implementing CRISPR-based interventions, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize these therapies. The methodology utilized for this review involved a comprehensive search of available literature, followed by thematic synthesis and analysis of current findings. The review concluded that CRISPR-based gene editing holds immense promises for advancing HIV cure research but requires further innovation and rigorous clinical testing before widespread clinical application.

Keywords: CRISPR-based gene editing, Latent HIV reservoirs, HIV cure, Antiretroviral therapy (ART), Gene disruption.

CITE AS: Mugo Moses H. (2025). The Role of CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Eradicating Latent HIV Reservoirs in Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): A Scoping Review. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES 5(2):93-96. https://doi.org/10.59298/RIJSES/2025/529396