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Review
. 2022 Jun;167(6):1387-1404.
doi: 10.1007/s00705-022-05432-8. Epub 2022 Apr 24.

Viruses as tools in gene therapy, vaccine development, and cancer treatment

Musab Bin Umair  1 , Fujimura Nao Akusa  1 , Hadia Kashif  1 , Seerat-E-Fatima  1 , Fatima Butt  1 , Marium Azhar  1 , Iqra Munir  1 , Muhammad Ahmed  1 , Wajeeha Khalil  1 , Hafiz Sharyar  1 , Shazia Rafique  1 , Muhammad Shahid  1 , Samia Afzal  2
Affiliations
Review

Viruses as tools in gene therapy, vaccine development, and cancer treatment

Musab Bin Umair et al. Arch Virol. 2022 Jun.

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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