Can Viruses Help Treat Cancer?

Researchers discovered that antibodies against endogenous retroviruses (i.e., relics of ancestral retroviral infections that occurred thousands of years ago) promote the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in mice and human patients with lung cancer. In this Microbial Minutes, we discuss these findings and their implications for the development and deployment of cancer therapeutics. We also explore the deliberate application of viruses for treating cancer.
Resources
The Studies
Ng K.W., et al. Antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote lung cancer immunotherapy. Nature. April 12, 2023.www.nature.com...
Sam M., et al. Engineering Oncolytic Coxsackievirus A21 with Small Transgenes and Enabling Cell-Mediated Virus Delivery by Integrating Viral cDNA into the Genome. Journal of Virology. April 18, 2023 journals.asm.o...
Additional Sources
Bryant M. DNA traces of ancient viruses may help fight cancer, study finds. The Guardian. April 15, 2023. www.theguardia...
Gallagher J. Million-year-old viruses help fight cancer, say scientists. BBC News. April 15, 2023. www.bbc.com/ne...
Grandi N., and Tramontano, E. Human Endogenous Retroviruses Are Ancient Acquired Elements Still Shaping Innate Immune Responses. Frontiers in Immunology. Sept. 10, 2018. www.frontiersi...
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. National Cancer Institute. Reviewed April 7, 2022. www.cancer.gov...
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[@jonathanf4939]

Great video! Are there papers on how ERV transcripts play a role in immune gene regulation and expression? Would it be correct to assume the expressed ERVs (glycoproteins & envelope) are expressed by MHC-class 1 proteins? The whole video was exciting to watch an undergraduate pursuing a career in viral therapeutics/oncolytics.

[@asmicrobiology]

Geat question, thanks for asking. Without further research we can't answer the question but questions like these help us create content around what viewers want to know more about so please keep them coming and thanks for watching! And good luck with school!

[@manijain5640]

❤​@@asmicrobiology

[@waelsalahaldin7553]

Good standing 🎉

[@DevonPhoenix]

Fighting cancer with fictitious particles....please

[@mihirojha4475]

What? What makes you think Viruses are fictional? Have you lost it?

[@hoppinggnomethe4154]

You gotta be idiotic to think that viruses are fictitious.

[@RituSurendrapatel]

😮