Since mice are not humans, briefly (in no more than 2 well-written sentences) explain why testing CRISPR in a BLT humanized mouse is a step above testing it in a transgenic mouse that contains replication-incompetent proviral HIV. The Value of BLT Humanized Mice in CRISPR Testing

In CRISPR Testing, the Value of Humanized BLT Mice

Testing CRISPR gene-editing technologies in BLT (bone marrow, liver, thymus) humanized mice is a step above testing it in a transgenic mouse that contains replication-incompetent proviral HIV due to the more accurate representation of human physiology. This is because BLT mice are engineered to contain human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and human immune cells, allowing them to better mimic the immune response of humans compared to transgenic mice that only contain replication-incompetent proviral HIV (Mendes et al., 2021; Chen et al., 2019). CRISPR treatment success rates are higher due to this improved accuracy. The BLT (bone-marrow, liver and thymus) transgenic mice are functionally humanized and have the ability to infect HIV. They make a better model for HIV research and treatment. In contrast, transgenic mice that contain replication-incompetent proviral HIV do not have functional human immune systems and cannot be infected with HIV, limiting their usefulness in studying HIV infection and potential therapies. Cont….