Abstract
Viruses continue to pose significant global health threats, with emerging epidemics such as HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 highlighting the limitations of current antiviral therapies, including drug resistance and the inability to target latent infections. The CRISPR-Cas system, a revolutionary gene-editing technology, offers promising alternatives for addressing these challenges. This article reviews the mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas in antiviral therapy, focusing on its ability to target both viral genomes and host factors critical for viral replication, recent advancements, limitations, and future prospects. Moreover, CRISPR can enhance antiviral strategies by editing host genes to confer cellular resistance and developing precise diagnostic tools for rapid viral detection. Even though research has demonstrated the potential of CRISPR in preclinical settings, challenges including incomplete viral clearance, off-target effects, and the transient nature of RNA-targeting strategies still exist. Further research is still required to determine the scalability of CRISPR technologies as well as their safety and effectiveness in human trials. Additionally, ethical concerns and the need for optimized delivery systems must be addressed for widespread clinical application. Despite these obstacles, recent advancements in CRISPR-based therapies for viral infections are promising, and ongoing research could soon result in more effective and adaptable antiviral treatments, potentially revolutionizing the future of infectious disease management.
Keywords: Antiviral Therapy, Clinical Application, CRISPR-Cas, SHERLOCK.