$1,000 Genome is here. Genome "editing" touted as future cure

http://venturebeat.com/2014/01/17/this-is-real-innovation-illuminas-new-machi...

Genome Editing
CRISPR (clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR- associated protein 9) and TALENs (transcription activator-like effector nucleases) comprise novel gene editing methods that overcome the challenges associated with previous technologies. Early published research on CRISPR/Cas9, coupled with a growing body of work on TALENs, suggests the potential to pursue therapeutic indications that have previously been intractable to traditional gene therapy, gene knock-down or other genome modification techniques. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, the most recent and exciting approach to emerge, acts by a mechanism in which the Cas9 protein binds to specific RNA molecules. The RNA molecules then guide the Cas9 complex to the exact location in the genome that requires repair. CRISPR/Cas9 uniquely enables highly efficient knock-out, knock-down or selective editing of defective genes in the context of their natural promoters, unlocking the ability to treat the root cause of a broad range of diseases.

http://www.editasmedicine.com/documents/EditasMedicine-LaunchPR.pdf

So some day it may be possible to repair a genetically faulty immune system. The big question is - whether this will be enough to cure an established chronic infection.