Scientists trained scissor - like machinery of bacteria to recognise HIV . They ##PR method successfully cut HIV 's genes , destroying the virus . This resulted in the virus being removed from up to 90 per cent of cells . CRISPR method also cleaned up HIV that was dormant within the cells ' DNA . Latest study shows the method is effective against active , full - length HIV rather than a shortened , inactive form of the virus .
Scientists trained scissor-like machinery of bacteria to recognise HIV . They found method successfully cut HIV 's genes , inactivating the virus . This resulted in the virus being removed from up to 72 per cent of cells . CRISPR method also cut up HIV that was dormant within the cells ' DNA . Latest study shows the method is effective against active , full-length HIV rather than a shortened , inactive version of the virus .