In our previous post on this topic, we introduced the details on how to make a replicating RNA virus from its genome (DNA). In this post, we want to zoom in on the details a bit more and share how we have improved the success rate of engineering viruses to over 70%. If you have not read the previous post on the science of viral engineering and want to get a first level understanding on how the process works, go…
Today, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs). This discovery has transformed our understanding of how cells regulate genes and opened new possibilities for diagnosing and treating diseases. But what exactly are miRNAs, and why are they so significant? What Are miRNAs? miRNAs are tiny pieces of RNA, typically about 22 nucleotides long, that act as master regulators in cells. They don’t code for proteins themselves…
Introduction Have you ever wondered how viruses are made in a lab setting? Although it may sound like complex wizardry, the process is quite approachable with a bit of molecular biology under your belt. This blog post will try to explain the process of engineering viruses, making it hopefully understandable to anyone curious about the steps involved. Understanding Virus Structure Before diving into virus creation, it is essential to understand what a virus consists of, in this case specifically lytic…
We recently attended the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference. It’s the largest cancer research gathering in the U.S., and we were thrilled to present our latest results and learn from peers. Here’s a snapshot of the current developments in oncolytic viral therapies (OVTs). The State of Oncolytic Viral Therapies Diverse Targets and Approaches:Presentations at AACR showed a strong interest in OVTs, featuring 39 oncolytic viruses from 23 companies and 11 research groups. These therapies aim to combat a…
We’re thrilled to announce that we’re returning to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting for the second time! It’s an honor to be invited back to this prestigious event where we’ll be showcasing our groundbreaking work in the field of cancer therapeutics. AACR is the largest gathering of cancer researchers, clinicians, survivors, and advocates in the world, with over 20,000 attendees. Our Progress Since Last Year Last year’s experience in Orlando was unforgettable. We connected with fellow…
How viruses infect cells is key to developing safe oncolytic viral therapies. In this post we discuss how viruses can be engineered to target cancer cells. The infection process begins when a virus recognizes and attaches to a host cell. This attachment is typically mediated by viral proteins known as glycoproteins, which specifically bind to receptors on the surface of the target cell. These glycoproteins act like keys, unlocking the door to the cell by interacting with specific cell surface…
The biggest problem in cancer therapeutics is selectivity. Using oncolytic viral therapies, high selectivity can be achieved using the combination of selective infection and selective replication. Here, we want to address selective replication. For DNA viruses, this can be accomplished with promoters to control transcription and genome replication. However, for RNA viruses, this does not work. A potential solution to control replication for RNA viruses is the use of aptazymes. Aptazymes are self-cleaving units composed of a riboswitch and an aptamer….
We were thrilled to present a poster of our work at AACR. It is one of the biggest conferences on cancer research, with 22,000 visitors. To get accepted, we had to write an abstract, which was reviewed, and we needed to be sponsored by an existing member. For us this was Dr. Sanjeev Vasudevan, whom we work with at Texas Children’s. Our poster gave a brief overview on our platform and the work we have done on Hepatoblastoma (liver cancer…
Q: Tell me a bit about yourself Hello! My name is Brenda and I grew up in Montgomery County Maryland. I spent a lot of my weekends visiting DC going to museums and visiting monuments nearby. The National Museum of Natural History is where I first fell in love with research and it helped shape a lot of my interests and career path. The exhibits and stories they told sparked my curiosity for science and discovery. When I visit home…
In this post we give an overview of the history of using viruses as potential treatment for cancer. We also outline the challenges a great viral therapy needs to overcome. Last, we review our approach to rationally design and engineer safe and effective oncolytic viruses. History and current state Since the middle of the last century there has been anecdotal evidence that virus infections can help in curing or slowing down cancer. Unfortunately these infections happened randomly and the results…