Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISER Bhopal) identified a specific circular RNA (circRNA) called ‘ciTRAN’, which plays a crucial role in the multiplication of the AIDS-causing HIV-1 virus within the human body. HIV remains a major global public health issue and has claimed 40.4 million lives so far globally. In 2022, 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes and 1.3 million people acquired HIV, a report by World Health Organisation (WHO) reveals. Currently, there is no cure for HIV infection.
The details of this study have been published in the reputed peer-reviewed journal Science Advances in a paper co-authored by Vipin Bhardwaj, Aman Singh, Aditi Choudhary, Rishikesh Dalavi, Dr. Lalchhanhima Ralte, Dr. Richard Chawngthu, Dr. Nachimuthu Senthilkumar, Dr. Nagarjun Vijay and Dr Ajit Chande.
