Viruses cure genetic diseases

When a virus infects a human, the host immune system typically triggers a cascade of defensive reactions. One of the most effective responses is the production of neutralising antibodies that recognise and attach to the virus shell and squelch its activity. Thus, their immune systems have learned to recognise AAV shells. In such immune individuals, even though the engineered version of AAV contains beneficial genetic information, it gets quickly tagged for destruction and obliterated long before it reaches its target destination the liver.

Even when a large number of AAV particles are administered to improve the odds of some getting through, the immune system mops them up. So Mingozzi came up with an idea to fool the immune system.

He mixed therapeutic AAV particles containing the right genetic information with lots of empty AAV shells lacking a DNA core, and injected them into mice used as a proxy for humans. This new approach enhanced AAV survival in the bloodstream of mice. Hepatitis B can be spread through sexual contact. Treatments for hepatitis B, C, and D focus on managing symptoms. In some cases, a doctor might prescribe medication, such as antiviral drugs. Treatment of hepatitis A and E involves supportive measures, such as getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, and avoiding alcohol.

There are vaccines for both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Other ways to prevent viral hepatitis include not sharing needles or razors, practicing safe sex , and avoiding food or drinks that may be contaminated by feces. Cutaneous viral diseases cause lesions or papules to form on the skin. In many cases, these lesions can stick around for a long time or come back after disappearing for a while. These viruses are contagious.

Papules that form due to warts or molluscum contagiosum often go away on their own. They can also be removed by simple in-office procedures, such as cryotherapy. Practicing good hygiene habits, avoiding the sharing of personal items, and avoiding close contact with people who have active lesions can reduce your risk of developing a cutaneous viral disease.

Some hemorrhagic viral diseases, such as dengue fever and yellow fever, are spread through the bite of an infected insect. Others, such as Ebola, are spread to other people through contact with the blood or other bodily fluid of someone with the virus.

Lassa fever is spread through inhaling or consuming the dried feces or urine of a rodent with the virus. Some people may need intravenous IV fluids to maintain electrolyte balance. Supportive care to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance is essential. In some cases, the antiviral drug ribavirin may be given. Researchers are in the process of developing vaccines for several hemorrhagic viruses.

A yellow fever vaccine is currently available for people traveling to areas where yellow fever is common. If you live or work in an area where viral hemorrhagic diseases are common, you can do the following to reduce your risk:. Some viruses can infect the brain and surrounding tissues, causing neurologic viral diseases. This can result in a range of symptoms, including:. Many neurologic viruses are spread through the bite of an infected animal or bug, such as a mosquito or tick. Other viruses, such poliovirus and other enteroviruses, are quite contagious and spread through close contact with someone with the virus.

Contaminated objects can also contribute to the spread of these viruses. In the US, a phase I trial run by the University of Pennsylvania tested the safety of a similar approach. They then added another gene to help the immune cells recognize tumors. T he results revealed that the treatment was safe in patients with advanced forms of cancer.

The therapy consists of harvesting bone marrow stem cells from the patients and using CRISPR technology in vitro to make them produce fetal hemoglobin. This is a natural form of the oxygen-carrying protein that binds oxygen much better than the conventional adult form.

The modified cells are then reinfused into the patient. Hemophilia is another blood disorder that CRISPR technology could tackle, although development is still at the preclinical stage. Last year, Intellia Therapeutics and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals teamed up to pursue the development of hemophilia treatments based on genome editing.

Many hereditary forms of blindness are caused by a specific genetic mutation, making it easy to use CRISPR-Cas9 to treat it by targeting and modifying a single gene.

In addition, the activity of the immune system is limited in the eye, which can circumvent any problems related to the body rejecting the treatment. The company Editas Medicine is working on a CRISPR therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis, the most common cause of inherited childhood blindness, for which there is currently no treatment.

The treatment aims to use CRISPR to restore the function of light-sensitive cells before the children lose sight completely by fixing the most common genetic mutation behind the disease. This approach could be used to attack the virus in its hidden, inactive form, which is what makes it impossible for most therapies to completely get rid of the virus. Another approach could make us resistant to HIV infections. Vaccines produced from viral vectors are currently being trialled for a wide variety of diseases from HIV to bird flu in ducks.

Humans have feared viruses for thousands of years but, with the arrival of viral vectors, we may have discovered the next great tool in the fight against disease.

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