Fig. 1.

Proposed steps for clinical application of the gene-editing strategy for elimination of HIV-1. a Ex vivo approach involving propagation of hematopoietic cells for treatment with gene-editing molecules followed by screening and selecting the identified cells with genetically inactivated, critically important cellular genes for viral infection, followed by cell expansion in the laboratory for infusion in the clinic. b Direct administration of the gene-editing molecule as created in the laboratory using an efficient delivery system to patients in the clinic