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Doctors Will Test Gene Editing On HIV Patients
Soychemist writes "Some people have a mutation that makes them highly resistant to HIV, and scientists think that they can give that immunity to anyone with a new type of gene therapy. The first human trials will start at the University of Pennsylvania this week. Researchers will draw blood from people with drug-resistant HIV, clip the CCR5 gene out of their T-cells with a nuclease enzyme, grow the modified cells in a dish, and then return 10 billion of them to the patient's bloodstream. Those cells will be immune to the virus, and they will keep the patient's T-cell count up even if the rest are destroyed. 'We will see if it is safe and if those cells inhibit HIV replication in vivo,' said the lead researcher. 'We know they do in the test tube.'"
Wait! Let me grab my gardening scissors to cut that gene out, oh.. we actually need proper medical equipment? I thought we're talking about HIV here.
But the big majority of people with HIV in the developed world have it because they are stupid. Avoid shooting up and receptive anal intercourse and you've dramatically cut your chances. Insist on only doing the nasty with clean partners in safe ways and you're very safe. Keep your dick dry, your asshole closed and don't shoot up and your chances of getting HIV are pretty much 0.
I like my beverages with warning labels!
A healthcare professional and HIV-positive. Why, you're the poster child of all the people who made previous posts to you saying how HIV aint such a big deal and we shouldn't bother with such expensive treatments such as this. I'm not saying you agree with them, simply that they'd love to
Given you're just an anonymous user on the internet*, you're life experiences, no matter how dreadful or important they might have been, doesn't actually add anything to the discussion. Because I could have made the exact same post as you, but instead saying current HIV medications aren't good enough.
When its so easy to lie, telling the truth becomes meaningless if it can't be verified. Also even if everything you say is true, this treatment will (at least) be for people who have the drug-resistant strain of HIV for which the current HIV medication isn't as effective.
* even had you posted under your real account, you're still anonymous. I'm anyonmous and I've got my account, I can also create a new account claiming to be Steve Jobs. I'd just be as anonymous. There is no way to prove your identity on the internet to strangers so you're effectively anonymous.