Hairpin Ribozyme Gene Therapy for AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a deadly disease that is the pathological consequence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus is spread via body fluids, and infection results in progressive immune dysfunction, most notably a loss of CD4⁺ cells, leading to a myriad of opportunistic infections and maladies. In spite of public education efforts that were expected to control the epidemic, the virus continues to spread, emphasizing that a means to battle the disease is mandatory. Despite extensive efforts by researchers around the world, an effective vaccine or chemotherapy drug has not been developed for preventing this deadly disease, nor is one expected in the foreseeable future. This failure of conventional methods indicates that more novel approaches need to be explored.