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GM Viruses May Help Cure Hepatitis B Infections
Hepatitis B (HBV) is a major threat in poor countries that cannot afford to buy the HBV vaccine. Each year about 1 million people with chronic HBV die from cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer, according to the World Health Organization.
Traditionally, HBV is treated with anti-viral drugs, but this approach only reduces the amount of virus in the body, rather than eliminating it.
Sergio Carmona and colleagues from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa have explored a gene therapy to fight HBV.
The scientists reported their results at the 2006 conference of International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy of Cancer, held in Chiba, Japan last week (13-15 October).
Previous studies have developed a technology called RNA interference (RNAi), where a molecule or group of molecules stops viruses or tumour cells replicating themselves and spreading infection.
Carmona and colleagues genetically modified a virus called adenovirus, which naturally exists in human bodies and is commonly harmless, to make it carry some RNAi compounds.
The modified adenoviruses can infect the particular site of the liver cells where HBV replicates, but the adenoviruses themselves do not replicate. Upon infecting the liver cells, the RNAi compounds on the adenoviruses stop HBV replication.
The researchers found that this approach can prevent up to 90 per cent of HBV replication in mice.
The team is now preparing for human clinical trials of the RNAi-based approach.
The RNAi method offers exciting promise as a therapeutic means of inhibiting HBV replication either alone or in combination with therapies that are already licensed, Carmona says.
Liu Yanxin, a senior molecular biologist from Beijing-based Peking Union Medical College, agrees the approach has potential for inhibiting virus replication.
But more research on the safety of the method as well as its efficiency in various subtypes of HBV infections are needed, Liu told SciDev.Net.
Traditionally, HBV is treated with anti-viral drugs, but this approach only reduces the amount of virus in the body, rather than eliminating it.
Sergio Carmona and colleagues from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa have explored a gene therapy to fight HBV.
The scientists reported their results at the 2006 conference of International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy of Cancer, held in Chiba, Japan last week (13-15 October).
Previous studies have developed a technology called RNA interference (RNAi), where a molecule or group of molecules stops viruses or tumour cells replicating themselves and spreading infection.
Carmona and colleagues genetically modified a virus called adenovirus, which naturally exists in human bodies and is commonly harmless, to make it carry some RNAi compounds.
The modified adenoviruses can infect the particular site of the liver cells where HBV replicates, but the adenoviruses themselves do not replicate. Upon infecting the liver cells, the RNAi compounds on the adenoviruses stop HBV replication.
The researchers found that this approach can prevent up to 90 per cent of HBV replication in mice.
The team is now preparing for human clinical trials of the RNAi-based approach.
The RNAi method offers exciting promise as a therapeutic means of inhibiting HBV replication either alone or in combination with therapies that are already licensed, Carmona says.
Liu Yanxin, a senior molecular biologist from Beijing-based Peking Union Medical College, agrees the approach has potential for inhibiting virus replication.
But more research on the safety of the method as well as its efficiency in various subtypes of HBV infections are needed, Liu told SciDev.Net.
Molecular biologists know about these viruses. We just never hear them speak on what they know and what the medical industry knows.
If you look at HBV treatment today. The effectiveness of it is no higher then in the 80s when only interferon was available. It is still is the best option for us.
Despite yes ALL this research that is floating out there that can cure HBV.
If you look at HBV treatment today. The effectiveness of it is no higher then in the 80s when only interferon was available. It is still is the best option for us.
Despite yes ALL this research that is floating out there that can cure HBV.
Well that is exactly what we have been saying here.
Researchers keep in mind most are idea purists. But in the real world you need money to develop these ideas. To get money you need connections and trust from people - investors.
Big pharma has is all. Name. Connections and abundance of money. But do you think if they will start eradicating diseases they will continue to profit as they do now? Cancer treatment for example is an industry that depends on the amount of patients. The same is true for Hep B.
The more of us take antivirals the richer big pharma gets. The more returns investors get on their investments.
And the way the current laws and regulations are set up. A small company with a cure cannot stand a chance.
Researchers keep in mind most are idea purists. But in the real world you need money to develop these ideas. To get money you need connections and trust from people - investors.
Big pharma has is all. Name. Connections and abundance of money. But do you think if they will start eradicating diseases they will continue to profit as they do now? Cancer treatment for example is an industry that depends on the amount of patients. The same is true for Hep B.
The more of us take antivirals the richer big pharma gets. The more returns investors get on their investments.
And the way the current laws and regulations are set up. A small company with a cure cannot stand a chance.
this is from 2006 as in your message. then what are these researchers doing from last 7 years..sleeping with pills and oral sxx.
The experts claim I shouldn't worry about it with oral sex and I have had 2 hep b shots over the last year. Do you think I should keep testing for hep b. I had a unprotected ******** about a month ago.
Well that is still better then taking drugs to inhibit the virus. With this approach a modified form of harmless virus controlling the pathogen.
Same principle as in our gut. Good bacteria controls Candida for example and it is not a problem.
Bottom line they have all this technology now and understanding. Yet it is nit being used. HBV is profit generating market to drug companies. Which makes hopes for a real cure rather grim.
In 7 years sure they role all these treatments out. Now somebody profits off the research funds. While others still profiting on what they have developed for hiv. That is really the sad part.:(
Same principle as in our gut. Good bacteria controls Candida for example and it is not a problem.
Bottom line they have all this technology now and understanding. Yet it is nit being used. HBV is profit generating market to drug companies. Which makes hopes for a real cure rather grim.
In 7 years sure they role all these treatments out. Now somebody profits off the research funds. While others still profiting on what they have developed for hiv. That is really the sad part.:(
Thanks for sharing interesting news.
According to this information, it could inhibit hbv virus replication, but not cure the virus :(
According to this information, it could inhibit hbv virus replication, but not cure the virus :(
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