The HIV/AIDS Epidemic remains a major public health crisis, demanding
awareness, prevention, and action.
In the 21st century, the ongoing global epidemic continues to make its way around the globe, infecting communities worldwide.
While modern treatments (antiretroviral therapies, broadly neutralizing antibodies, etc) have evolved over time, the broader issue of lifelong dependency to silica treatment remains. That is, HIV remains uncured.
Upon investigation, researchers realized the science behind the virus' persistence: latent reservoirs. The virus "hides" itself in the brain and spinal cord, essentially making it undetectable.
HIV has been a continuous epidemic for decades, yet no reliable method exists to identify these latent reservoirs.
We need a fast, effective strategy for detecting and targeting these latent reservoirs of HIV in order to achieve a functional cure and prevent future resurgence.
We decided to use a novel synthetic biology delivery carrier called
AB-type toxin-based delivery platform
to develop Cas-T Away, a protein capable of cleaving HIV ssRNA. The key component of Cas-T Away is the Cas13a protein - combined with gRNA, this duo can target and cleave HIV.
Together, we attempt to help alleviate the pain of one of the most devastating illnesses in the world.