December 19, 2005 -- Sangamo BioSciences reported success in the laboratory in protecting T-cells from invasion by the HIV virus. The company used its proprietary zinc finger DNA-binding protein nucleases (ZFNs) that disrupt the CCR5 gene. The CCR5 is the point of entry that HIV uses to enter immune cells. Treated with ZFNs, the modified cells were resistant to HIV. The CCR5 gene is important to the progress of HIV/AIDS, though other drugs targeting the site have caused side effects. We look at the novel approach from Sangamo...
