3. What is viral gene therapy?
• Viral gene therapy is the process of using a
virus to transport and insert genetic
information into the nucleus of the patient’s
cells.
4. How does a virus
work?
A virus is a non-living
parasitic creature that
hijacks a cell in order to
reproduce.
5. How does a virus
work?
A virus is a non-living
parasitic creature that
hijacks a cell in order to
reproduce.
6. How do you make a
viral vector?
• To make a viral vector, a scientist removes
all DNA or RNA in the virus, then replaces
it with whatever DNA he wants
transferred.
7. What viruses are used?
• Any virus can
be used to
make a vector,
but each has its
own distinct
capabilities.
• (See chart for
details)
8. What viruses are used?
• Any virus can
be used to
make a vector,
but each has its
own distinct
capabilities.
• (See chart for
details)
9. Common Viruses
• Commonly used viruses:
• Adenoviruses (Common cold)
• Adeno-associated viruses (Mostly harmless, extremely common)
• Retroviruses (HIV)
• Herpes viruses (Cold sores)
10. What can it treat?
• Viral gene therapy is a possible way to treat
cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, certain
cancers, inherited disabilities like blindness
and more.
11. Why ‘Possible’?
• Viral gene therapy is still under intense
research and is considered “experimental”
by most insurance companies, preventing
many people from using it. Research is
continuing on what it can treat, how and
for how long.
12. Disadvantages
• Viral gene therapy can not treat multi-gene traits as the
vector’s capacity is limited.
• Many treatments are usually needed.
• Many or high dose treatments may trigger a response
from the immune system, killing the vector before it does
its job.
• A retrovirus or adeno-associated virus may insert itself
on the wrong part of a chromosome, causing mutations.
13. Fears
• Many people fear that the virus will
reactivate itself, causing harm to the patient
or infecting other people.
• Mistakes during the selection of the virus
for the vector can cause deaths if
mutations are caused by the vector.
14. Ethical Concerns
• People are playing God.
• Only people with lots of money can afford
treatment.
• What is normal versus what is a disability.
• Who decides all these things.
