The Role of CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Achieving Functional HIV Cure: A Narrative Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence

Ngugi Mwaura J.

School of Natural and Applied Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The persistence of latent viral reservoirs remains a significant barrier to achieving a functional cure for HIV, despite the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in suppressing viral replication. CRISPR-based gene editing has emerged as a transformative tool with the potential to target and exercise integrated proviral DNA, offering a novel approach to eradicating HIV reservoirs. This narrative review synthesized preclinical and clinical evidence on the role of CRISPR in achieving a functional HIV cure, focusing on its mechanisms, applications, and therapeutic potential. Preclinical studies in cell lines, primary cells, and animal models have demonstrated the ability of CRISPR to disrupt HIV DNA and reduce viral load, while early-phase clinical trials have explored its safety and feasibility in humans. However, challenges such as off-target effects, immune responses, and the heterogeneity of latent reservoirs persist. This review highlighted the need for optimized delivery systems, combinatorial therapeutic strategies, and long-term safety assessments to advance CRISPR-based therapies. By integrating CRISPR with other modalities, such as latency-reversing agents and immune-based therapies, there is potential to achieve sustained viral suppression and bring us closer to a functional HIV cure. This article employed a narrative review methodology, drawing on a comprehensive analysis of preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate the current state and future directions of CRISPR-based gene editing in HIV cure research.

Keywords: CRISPR-Cas9, HIV Cure, Latent Reservoirs, Gene Editing, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).

CITE AS: Ngugi Mwaura J. (2025). The Role of CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Achieving Functional HIV Cure: A Narrative Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. Research Output Journal of Public Health and Medicine 5(3):41-44. https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJPHM/2025/534144