# Enzyme Cuts HIV Out of Cells

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyme-cuts-hiv-out-of-cells/410313
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 3, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyme-cuts-hiv-out-of-cells/410313 "2007-07-03T03:10:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enzyme-cuts-hiv-out-of-cells/410313/1 "2007-07-03T03:10:38Z")

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[Normally I’d just slap this on the page that’s linked in my sig, but this is pretty big news and I don’t want anyone to miss it.](http://sciam.com/article.cfm?articleid=737AB56E-E7F2-99DF-382B756D1860EACA)

> [@](#):
>
> Scientists have constructed a custom enzyme that reverses the process by which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) inserts its genetic material into host DNA, suggesting that treatment with similar enzymes could potentially rid infected cells of the virus. In tests on cultured human tissue, the mutated enzyme, Tre recombinase, snipped HIV DNA out of chromosomes.

Not a cure, and not a treatment. Yet.