Gene Drive Technology

Chloe Babb
My Idea

Use gene therapy with gene

drives to remove viral DNA from
infected human host cells.
Target Virus: HIV
HIV has been an epidemic for decades. However,
numbers of cases have decreased from more
information and safe practices.
Startling statistics:
I. 36.7 million people infected worldwide
II. 1.8 million children
III. 2.1 million new cases in 2015 (most recent statistical
year)
IV. 1.2 million in United States
Why HIV?
Family

Interests

No cure
HIV Lifecycle
Attachment/binding (1)
Entry/fusion (2)
Uncoating (3 and 4)
Biosynthesis (5)
Maturation (6)
Release
Gene Drives
Use of Crispr/Cas9 (a gene editing tool)
Helps altered genes survive/inherited more
Drive themselves
Includes a section of guide RNA, altered gene, and
Crispr/Cas9
Crispr/Cas9
Gene Drive
Gene Therapy
Fix genetic problems at the source: the genes
Uses a vector: plasmids or viruses
The vector must target, integrate, activate, avoid
In vivo: directly inject vector into patient
Ex Vivo: remove patient cells, grow in culture, introduce
vector, if vector is successful, inject cells back in patient
Putting it all together

Gene
HIV Gene Drive Product
Therapy
Remove viral Insert gene Use ex vivo Inject cells back
genome from drive with gene therapy into host and
HIV virus. altered traits techniques, to allow gene
that code to ensure success drive to drive
remove viral of gene drive. itself.
genome from
the host cell,
crispr/cas9, and
guide RNA.
Possible Problems
Immune response will be invoked
Gene drive will fail
HIV will become active
Altered virus will not enter the patients cell
Value?
Save lives
Potential to eradicate HIV
Medical breakthrough
$$
Sources
Gene Drives. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from
http://www.sculptingevolution.org/genedrives
Gene Delivery: Tools of the Trade. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/genetherapy/tools/
Global Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from
https://www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/global-statistics/
HIV/AIDS. (2016, December 02). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/ataglance.html
The HIV Life Cycle | Understanding HIV/AIDS | AIDSinfo. (n.d.). Retrieved
April 19, 2017, from
https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv-aids/fact-sheets/19/73/the-hiv-lif
e-cycle/
What is CRISPR-Cas9? (2016, December 19). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from
http://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-crispr-cas9