The first time to 'wipe out' the HIV virus from human cells

Scientists have found a way to erase the HIV virus from the human genome by using an enzyme to shred them.

Once HIV enters the human cell, it stays there forever. The virus permanently inserts its deadly genome into the victim's DNA, causing them to have lifelong treatment to keep their lives.

But recently, researchers in Philadelphia have for the first time found a way to " completely" eradicate HIV from human cells by "cutting" them.

HIV virus

They mobilized a combination of DNA-cutting enzymes called Cas9 and a series of DNA-guided RNA (gRNA) to ' track down' the viral genome and erase its DNA.

After that, the cell's genetic repair machine takes over the work, "welding" the ends of the disconnected genome - as a result, the cells will "clean" the virus.

"Because the immune system cannot kill off HIV-1, eliminating the virus is necessary to cure the disease," the team explained.

Worldwide, 33 million people are infected with HIV, including more than 1 million people in the United States. Every year the country has 50,000 more people infected with the virus.

In the UK, there are about 100,000 people infected with HIV in the UK in 2013.

Although HIV medications have helped control the virus in people who have been infected for the past 15 years, the virus will burst again if treatment is stopped.

The team's breakthrough at Temple University Medical School marks the first successful attempt to eliminate hidden HIV-1 virus from human cells - and possibly a way to completely cure HIV and Other hidden infections.