viruses are tiny natural infectious agents that whether you
infectious agents that whether you
infectious agents that whether you realize it or not cause are part of our
realize it or not cause are part of our
realize it or not cause are part of our everyday lives viruses often make
everyday lives viruses often make
everyday lives viruses often make headlines for causing disease in humans
headlines for causing disease in humans
headlines for causing disease in humans you all at some point or another have
you all at some point or another have
you all at some point or another have heard of Ebola virus which caused the
heard of Ebola virus which caused the
heard of Ebola virus which caused the deadly outbreak in West Africa and 2015
deadly outbreak in West Africa and 2015
deadly outbreak in West Africa and 2015 polio which causes paralysis and struck
polio which causes paralysis and struck
polio which causes paralysis and struck fear in the hearts of parents prior to
fear in the hearts of parents prior to
fear in the hearts of parents prior to the development of Salk vaccine 1950s
the development of Salk vaccine 1950s
the development of Salk vaccine 1950s and smallpox the deadliest pathogen in
and smallpox the deadliest pathogen in
and smallpox the deadliest pathogen in the history of mankind but it may
the history of mankind but it may
the history of mankind but it may surprise you that some viruses are being
surprise you that some viruses are being
surprise you that some viruses are being harnessed to be beneficial for humans
harnessed to be beneficial for humans
harnessed to be beneficial for humans and may be key tools in the future of
and may be key tools in the future of
and may be key tools in the future of treating cancers and genetic diseases so
treating cancers and genetic diseases so
treating cancers and genetic diseases so what exactly is a virus all viruses
what exactly is a virus all viruses
what exactly is a virus all viruses contain two essential components genetic
contain two essential components genetic
contain two essential components genetic information and a protein coat the
information and a protein coat the
information and a protein coat the genetic information is stored in nucleic
genetic information is stored in nucleic
genetic information is stored in nucleic acid which can be either DNA or RNA the
acid which can be either DNA or RNA the
acid which can be either DNA or RNA the nucleic acid has four base pairs which
nucleic acid has four base pairs which
nucleic acid has four base pairs which can be arranged in different ways to
can be arranged in different ways to
can be arranged in different ways to code for different things DNA is
code for different things DNA is
code for different things DNA is transcribed into RNA and messenger RNA
transcribed into RNA and messenger RNA
transcribed into RNA and messenger RNA is translated into proteins which have a
is translated into proteins which have a
is translated into proteins which have a large number of functions in our bodies
large number of functions in our bodies
large number of functions in our bodies the virus makes proteins that form a
the virus makes proteins that form a
the virus makes proteins that form a protein capsid that protect the genetic
protein capsid that protect the genetic
protein capsid that protect the genetic information some viruses have an outer
information some viruses have an outer
information some viruses have an outer lipid envelope which they use and
lipid envelope which they use and
lipid envelope which they use and acquire from the host cell that they
acquire from the host cell that they
acquire from the host cell that they infect protein spikes are used by the
infect protein spikes are used by the
infect protein spikes are used by the virus to adhere to and enter cells
virus to adhere to and enter cells
virus to adhere to and enter cells viruses come in many different shapes
viruses come in many different shapes
viruses come in many different shapes and sizes some are small and simple
and sizes some are small and simple
and sizes some are small and simple containing only a few genes while others
containing only a few genes while others
containing only a few genes while others are large and complex containing
are large and complex containing
are large and complex containing hundreds of genes every organism on the
hundreds of genes every organism on the
hundreds of genes every organism on the planet can be infected with a virus
planet can be infected with a virus
planet can be infected with a virus viruses cannot replicate on their own
viruses cannot replicate on their own
viruses cannot replicate on their own instead they must infect a host cell and
instead they must infect a host cell and
instead they must infect a host cell and use its machinery to make new copies of
use its machinery to make new copies of
use its machinery to make new copies of themselves viruses adhere to the host
themselves viruses adhere to the host
themselves viruses adhere to the host cell and release their genetic
cell and release their genetic
cell and release their genetic information sometimes viruses will lay
information sometimes viruses will lay
information sometimes viruses will lay latent in the cell not causing harm this
latent in the cell not causing harm this
latent in the cell not causing harm this is where one type of gene therapy can
is where one type of gene therapy can
is where one type of gene therapy can occur in which the virus delivers
occur in which the virus delivers
occur in which the virus delivers nucleic acid telling the cell what to do
nucleic acid telling the cell what to do
nucleic acid telling the cell what to do without harming the cell once the virus
without harming the cell once the virus
without harming the cell once the virus is inside it can then hijack the cell
is inside it can then hijack the cell
is inside it can then hijack the cell into making new viral nucleic acids and
into making new viral nucleic acids and
into making new viral nucleic acids and proteins sometimes the new viral
proteins sometimes the new viral
proteins sometimes the new viral particles will lice out of the cell
particles will lice out of the cell
particles will lice out of the cell killing it this is where another form of
killing it this is where another form of
killing it this is where another form of gene therapy can occur in which the
gene therapy can occur in which the
gene therapy can occur in which the virus infects but selectively kills
virus infects but selectively kills
virus infects but selectively kills cancer cells viruses the idea of using
cancer cells viruses the idea of using
cancer cells viruses the idea of using viruses as beneficial agents for
viruses as beneficial agents for
viruses as beneficial agents for treatments has been around since they
treatments has been around since they
treatments has been around since they were first recognized around the turn of
were first recognized around the turn of
were first recognized around the turn of the 19th century throughout the past 150
the 19th century throughout the past 150
the 19th century throughout the past 150 years there have been numerous case
years there have been numerous case
years there have been numerous case reports of patients having brief
reports of patients having brief
reports of patients having brief regressions of their cancers during
regressions of their cancers during
regressions of their cancers during naturally acquired virus infections
naturally acquired virus infections
naturally acquired virus infections often times these patients had
often times these patients had
often times these patients had suppressed immune systems which allowed
suppressed immune systems which allowed
suppressed immune systems which allowed the virus to not be killed by the immune
the virus to not be killed by the immune
the virus to not be killed by the immune system before reaching the cancer cells
system before reaching the cancer cells
system before reaching the cancer cells in one early and widely cited example
in one early and widely cited example
in one early and widely cited example from 1904 a doctor named George doc
from 1904 a doctor named George doc
from 1904 a doctor named George doc described a 42 year old woman with a
described a 42 year old woman with a
described a 42 year old woman with a malignus leukemia that went into
malignus leukemia that went into
malignus leukemia that went into remission after a pursuing viral
remission after a pursuing viral
remission after a pursuing viral infection the 1950s and 60s brought an
infection the 1950s and 60s brought an
infection the 1950s and 60s brought an accelerated understanding of viruses
accelerated understanding of viruses
accelerated understanding of viruses this was due to the advent of cell and
this was due to the advent of cell and
this was due to the advent of cell and tissue culture systems which allowed for
tissue culture systems which allowed for
tissue culture systems which allowed for viruses to be grown outside of the body
viruses to be grown outside of the body
viruses to be grown outside of the body and the development of rodent models of
and the development of rodent models of
and the development of rodent models of disease many scientists and doctors
disease many scientists and doctors
disease many scientists and doctors studied viruses as potential agents to
studied viruses as potential agents to
studied viruses as potential agents to treat cancers and genetic diseases
treat cancers and genetic diseases
treat cancers and genetic diseases during this time but genetic technology
during this time but genetic technology
during this time but genetic technology was not quite advanced enough and
was not quite advanced enough and
was not quite advanced enough and viruses proved to be too elusive to be
viruses proved to be too elusive to be
viruses proved to be too elusive to be safely used as treatments in humans
safely used as treatments in humans
safely used as treatments in humans this caused many scientists to abandon
this caused many scientists to abandon
this caused many scientists to abandon the field in the 1970s and 1980s due to
the field in the 1970s and 1980s due to
the field in the 1970s and 1980s due to limited success it was clear that
limited success it was clear that
limited success it was clear that viruses had great potential for being
viruses had great potential for being
viruses had great potential for being used
used
used treatments but it it needed to have
treatments but it it needed to have
treatments but it it needed to have their genomes be able to be stable E and
their genomes be able to be stable E and
their genomes be able to be stable E and accurately manipulated before they so
accurately manipulated before they so
accurately manipulated before they so that they could be better targeted to
that they could be better targeted to
that they could be better targeted to cancer cells without being destroyed by
cancer cells without being destroyed by
cancer cells without being destroyed by the immune system or causing harm to non
the immune system or causing harm to non
the immune system or causing harm to non target cells the age of genetic
target cells the age of genetic
target cells the age of genetic engineering changed this in the early
engineering changed this in the early
engineering changed this in the early 1990s genetic technology became standard
1990s genetic technology became standard
1990s genetic technology became standard and many and many scientists began
and many and many scientists began
and many and many scientists began studying this idea again gene therapy
studying this idea again gene therapy
studying this idea again gene therapy netic diseases and cancers are can
netic diseases and cancers are can
netic diseases and cancers are can sometimes be caused by a missing gene or
sometimes be caused by a missing gene or
sometimes be caused by a missing gene or mutated gene that causes harm in gene
mutated gene that causes harm in gene
mutated gene that causes harm in gene therapy a therapeutic gene can replace
therapy a therapeutic gene can replace
therapy a therapeutic gene can replace or correct the missing or mutated gene
or correct the missing or mutated gene
or correct the missing or mutated gene viruses can be used as vectors to
viruses can be used as vectors to
viruses can be used as vectors to deliver this therapeutic gene gene
deliver this therapeutic gene gene
deliver this therapeutic gene gene therapy can have several different
therapy can have several different
therapy can have several different purposes for one they can be used to
purposes for one they can be used to
purposes for one they can be used to compensate for genetic defects
compensate for genetic defects
compensate for genetic defects cytoreductive therapy in which cancer
cytoreductive therapy in which cancer
cytoreductive therapy in which cancer cells are are reduced or stopped from
cells are are reduced or stopped from
cells are are reduced or stopped from dividing tissue engineering in which
dividing tissue engineering in which
dividing tissue engineering in which tissues are you are engineered to be to
tissues are you are engineered to be to
tissues are you are engineered to be to function in a desired way or
function in a desired way or
function in a desired way or immunostimulatory in which cancer cells
immunostimulatory in which cancer cells
immunostimulatory in which cancer cells are engineered to be destroyed by the
are engineered to be destroyed by the
are engineered to be destroyed by the immune system in addition to using
immune system in addition to using
immune system in addition to using oncolytic viruses to kill cancers
oncolytic viruses to kill cancers
oncolytic viruses to kill cancers viruses can also be used as vectors for
viruses can also be used as vectors for
viruses can also be used as vectors for other genetic diseases currently there
other genetic diseases currently there
other genetic diseases currently there is active research looking into muscular
is active research looking into muscular
is active research looking into muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis for
dystrophy and cystic fibrosis for
dystrophy and cystic fibrosis for compensating for genetic defects immune
compensating for genetic defects immune
compensating for genetic defects immune disorders such as severe combined
disorders such as severe combined
disorders such as severe combined immunodeficiency disorder have already
immunodeficiency disorder have already
immunodeficiency disorder have already had great prior success in clinical
had great prior success in clinical
had great prior success in clinical trials in being treated by gene therapy
trials in being treated by gene therapy
trials in being treated by gene therapy this idea of using viruses as friends
this idea of using viruses as friends
this idea of using viruses as friends culminated in the first commercialized
culminated in the first commercialized
culminated in the first commercialized oolitic virus
oolitic virus
oolitic virus old auger in augerin was a modified
old auger in augerin was a modified
old auger in augerin was a modified adenovirus vector which is approved by
adenovirus vector which is approved by
adenovirus vector which is approved by the Chinese s FDA in 2005 to treat a
the Chinese s FDA in 2005 to treat a
the Chinese s FDA in 2005 to treat a form of carcinoma in combination with
form of carcinoma in combination with
form of carcinoma in combination with chemotherapy in 2015 the u.s. approved
chemotherapy in 2015 the u.s. approved
chemotherapy in 2015 the u.s. approved its first oncolytic virus called in
its first oncolytic virus called in
its first oncolytic virus called in logic which is a modified form of the
logic which is a modified form of the
logic which is a modified form of the herpes simplex virus that was shown to
herpes simplex virus that was shown to
herpes simplex virus that was shown to be effective at killing melanoma lesions
be effective at killing melanoma lesions
be effective at killing melanoma lesions today there are viruses in clinical
today there are viruses in clinical
today there are viruses in clinical trials from over 9 different families in
trials from over 9 different families in
trials from over 9 different families in the United States and viruses have moved
the United States and viruses have moved
the United States and viruses have moved into clinical trials all over the world
into clinical trials all over the world
into clinical trials all over the world one clinical trial occurred at the u.s.
one clinical trial occurred at the u.s.
one clinical trial occurred at the u.s. institution that I spent last summer
institution that I spent last summer
institution that I spent last summer researching at the Mayo Clinic
researching at the Mayo Clinic
researching at the Mayo Clinic Stacy her Holtz battled a deadly
Stacy her Holtz battled a deadly
Stacy her Holtz battled a deadly multiple myeloma a cancer of the plasma
multiple myeloma a cancer of the plasma
multiple myeloma a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow which also
cells in the bone marrow which also
cells in the bone marrow which also causes skeletal and – soft tissue tumors
causes skeletal and – soft tissue tumors
causes skeletal and – soft tissue tumors this – this type of cancer often
this – this type of cancer often
this – this type of cancer often overcomes the immune stimulating drugs
overcomes the immune stimulating drugs
overcomes the immune stimulating drugs used to treat it and it’s rarely curable
used to treat it and it’s rarely curable
used to treat it and it’s rarely curable she had tumors growing all over her body
she had tumors growing all over her body
she had tumors growing all over her body she was out of treatment options and she
she was out of treatment options and she
she was out of treatment options and she had a very grim outlook she joined a
had a very grim outlook she joined a
had a very grim outlook she joined a two-person clinical study at the Mayo
two-person clinical study at the Mayo
two-person clinical study at the Mayo Clinic in 2013 and was injected with
Clinic in 2013 and was injected with
Clinic in 2013 and was injected with enough Uncle it ik vaccine strain
enough Uncle it ik vaccine strain
enough Uncle it ik vaccine strain measles virus to vaccinate 10 million
measles virus to vaccinate 10 million
measles virus to vaccinate 10 million people after getting very sick for a day
people after getting very sick for a day
people after getting very sick for a day her cancer completely cleared and she
her cancer completely cleared and she
her cancer completely cleared and she has been manageable ever since because
has been manageable ever since because
has been manageable ever since because of this treatment this woman is still
of this treatment this woman is still
of this treatment this woman is still live today as of the time of this talk
live today as of the time of this talk
live today as of the time of this talk over three years after the treatment and
over three years after the treatment and
over three years after the treatment and 12 years after the initial diagnosis
12 years after the initial diagnosis
12 years after the initial diagnosis viruses certainly have exciting
viruses certainly have exciting
viruses certainly have exciting potential as beneficial agents to treat
potential as beneficial agents to treat
potential as beneficial agents to treat cancers and genetic diseases it took
cancers and genetic diseases it took
cancers and genetic diseases it took many scientists and doctors performing
many scientists and doctors performing
many scientists and doctors performing fundamental research purely out of the
fundamental research purely out of the
fundamental research purely out of the sake of curiosity to generate this the
sake of curiosity to generate this the
sake of curiosity to generate this the knowledge that we have today to arm
knowledge that we have today to arm
knowledge that we have today to arm modify and
modify and
modify and forget viruses people from diverse
forget viruses people from diverse
forget viruses people from diverse backgrounds performing basic research
backgrounds performing basic research
backgrounds performing basic research were essential in driving this concept
were essential in driving this concept
were essential in driving this concept from impossible to realistic despite the
from impossible to realistic despite the
from impossible to realistic despite the remarkable progress that we’ve seen and
remarkable progress that we’ve seen and
remarkable progress that we’ve seen and despite this concept being proven to be
despite this concept being proven to be
despite this concept being proven to be possible we still have a long ways to go
possible we still have a long ways to go
possible we still have a long ways to go before it can be have widespread impact
before it can be have widespread impact
before it can be have widespread impact on people it will it’s going to take a
on people it will it’s going to take a
on people it will it’s going to take a lot to do this we have to continue to as
lot to do this we have to continue to as
lot to do this we have to continue to as with the rest of science in order to
with the rest of science in order to
with the rest of science in order to drive it forward we have to keep
drive it forward we have to keep
drive it forward we have to keep increasing opportunities for all people
increasing opportunities for all people
increasing opportunities for all people to engage in science regardless of the
to engage in science regardless of the
to engage in science regardless of the geographic background that they come
geographic background that they come
geographic background that they come from or other factors that make them
from or other factors that make them
from or other factors that make them diverse many more discoveries are needed
diverse many more discoveries are needed
diverse many more discoveries are needed to be made and much more work is needed
to be made and much more work is needed
to be made and much more work is needed to be done
to be done
to be done for example the angka lytic measles
for example the angka lytic measles
for example the angka lytic measles virus that state treated Stasi or Holt’s
virus that state treated Stasi or Holt’s
virus that state treated Stasi or Holt’s was not effective at treating cancer
was not effective at treating cancer
was not effective at treating cancer patients who didn’t have as many
patients who didn’t have as many
patients who didn’t have as many antibodies for measles virus and thus
antibodies for measles virus and thus
antibodies for measles virus and thus modifying the virus to be able to hide
modifying the virus to be able to hide
modifying the virus to be able to hide from the immune system while still not
from the immune system while still not
from the immune system while still not causing harm to normal body cells will
causing harm to normal body cells will
causing harm to normal body cells will be required both a shared respect for
be required both a shared respect for
be required both a shared respect for science by everyone domestically and the
science by everyone domestically and the
science by everyone domestically and the ability to form international
ability to form international
ability to form international collaborations to openly share ideas
collaborations to openly share ideas
collaborations to openly share ideas were important in the history of this
were important in the history of this
were important in the history of this idea and will be essential for making
idea and will be essential for making
idea and will be essential for making future advancements as we continue this
future advancements as we continue this
future advancements as we continue this story of turning viruses from foes to
story of turning viruses from foes to
story of turning viruses from foes to friend
”
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