baculogenes: designing an improved gene therapy … · project ‐ gene therapy: an integrated...
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GENETHERAPYFORPROSTATECANCER‐3
GIANTCONSORTIUMGENETHERAPY
TheroleofYCR‐CRUwithintheGIANTconsor3umistocarryoutinvitrocellmodeltes3ngofnovelgenetherapyvectorsandmolecules:‐
LNCaPmetasta3cprostatecellsgrownin3Dandinfectedwithanadenovirus(blue=cellDNA,
green=adenovirus).
Electron microscopy showing holes observed inouter cells of an LNCaP spheroid 3 days aJerinfec3onwithaprostatetargetedadenovirus.
Damagedcells
Healthycells
The aim of the EU‐fundedGIANT project ‐ Gene Therapy: AnIntegrated Approach for Neoplas3c Treatment ‐ is to developandtestnovelprostate‐targetedgenetherapyvectors.
BPH‐1prostatecells(turquoise=cellnuclei)boundtotransferrinpep3de(red),apoten3almoleculefortarge3nggenetherapyvectors.
Baculovirus
BACULOGENES:DESIGNINGANIMPROVEDGENETHERAPYVECTOR
The insect baculovirus AcMNPV is another promising gene therapyvectorthatisbeingdevelopedbytheEUfundedBaculogenesproject.
AdvantagesofAcMNPVinclude:‐• LargeinsertcapacityforforeignDNA.• Nopre‐exis3ngimmunity(helpingitevadeourimmunesystem).• Efficientnucleargenedeliverytodividingandnon‐dividingcells.• Itcaneasilybeproducedinexpensivelyinlargequan33es.
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Our aims within the Baculogenesproject are: 1. to determine whatsignals govern packaging of viral DNA;2. toengineer thevirus tobetargetedtowards prostate cancer cells and toonly express therapeu3c genes withinthosecells.