Viruses As Tools in Gene Therapy, Vaccine Development, and Cancer Treatment

Overview

Journal Arch Virol

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2022 Apr 25

PMID 35462594

Authors

Musab Bin Umair

Fujimura Nao Akusa

Hadia Kashif

Seerat-E-Fatima

Fatima Butt

Marium Azhar

Iqra Munir

Muhammad Ahmed

Wajeeha Khalil

Hafiz Sharyar

Shazia Rafique

Muhammad Shahid

Samia Afzal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Using viruses to our advantage has been a huge leap for humanity. Their ability to mediate horizontal gene transfer has made them useful tools for gene therapy, vaccine development, and cancer treatment. Adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, retroviruses, lentiviruses, alphaviruses, and herpesviruses are a few of the most common candidates for use as therapeutic agents or efficient gene delivery systems. Efforts are being made to improve and perfect viral-vector-based therapies to overcome potential or reported drawbacks. Some preclinical trials of viral vector vaccines have yielded positive results, indicating their potential as prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine candidates. Utilization of the oncolytic activity of viruses is the future of cancer therapy, as patients will then be free from the harmful effects of chemo- or radiotherapy. This review discusses in vitro and in vivo studies showing the brilliant therapeutic potential of viruses.

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