Novel treatment uses bacterial virus already in the body to give new hope in combatting deadly genetic disorders
An innovative method that uses modified versions of a bacterial virus effective at delivering treatments to human cells shows promise as a more inexpensive and efficient way to treat some deadly genetic diseases.
Researchers from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo use a modified version of a bacterial virus called M13 to target specific human cells while carrying only the genes they want delivered, with no unwanted virus or bacteria. Scientists can fine-tune the modified M13 to deliver different therapeutic genes for the treatment of many different diseases.
About one person in 25 has an inherited disease. Despite the need, many conditions lack accessible treatments and do not have a cure. The Waterloo researchers expect the method can be used for many different types of genetic disorders, some of which are inherited, but others that may develop, such as cancer.
“There is a real need for customizable gene therapies to address the gap in treatments,” said Dr. Roderick Slavcev, a professor in Waterloo’s School of Pharmacy and the principal investigator of the study. "What’s exciting about M13 is that it is very simple genetically and structurally, a single-stranded DNA phage. This simplicity allows for a cost-effective, efficient, and controllable approach to gene therapy that may represent a step towards personalized gene therapy.”