Advances in medicine and biotechnology have paved the way for innovative therapeutic delivery methods that have transformed the treatment of many diseases. Pseudoviruses are one of these developments that show promise in the delivery of gene therapies and other therapeutic agents with improved efficiency and selectivity. This article highlights the advantages of using pseudoviruses as delivery vehicles over more conventional methods by examining state-of-the-art research in this area.
What are Pseudo-Viruses?
Virus particles that mimic the structure of actual viruses but are incapable of replicating into new infectious viruses are called pseudoviruses, also referred to as pseudotyped viruses. The envelope proteins of one virus are combined with the core of another, typically an attenuated or non-pathogenic virus, to create these non-replicative vectors. Because of their hybrid form, pseudoviruses may target specific cells with precision, which makes them great candidates for therapeutic administration.
Mechanisms of pseudovirus based delivery
Specificity and targeting
One of the primary benefits of pseudovirus based delivery methods is the capacity to target specific cells or regions. Scientists can introduce specific envelope proteins on the surface of pseudovirus to instruct them to bind to specific cell surface receptors. This selectivity minimizes off-target effects while increasing the therapeutic efficacy of the administered therapeutics.
Entry and transduction
When a pseudovirus attaches to its target cell, it undergoes endocytosis, in which the cell membrane engulfs the virus, forming an endosome. The viral envelope then fuses with the endosomal membrane, releasing the therapeutic cargo into the cytoplasm. This fast transduction process guarantees that a large proportion of target cells receive the therapeutic medicines.
Applications in gene therapy
Correcting genetic disorders
Gene therapy attempts to treat genetic problems by inserting functional genes into abnormal cells to replace defective or missing genes. Pseudoviruses have shown considerable promise in this field because of their capacity to transfer genes to specific cells.
Cancer treatment
In cancer therapy, pseudoviruses can be created to deliver genes that cause immunogenic cell death of cancer cells or improve the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy tumors. Researchers are investigating the use of pseudoviruses to deliver tumor suppressor or oncolytic genes directly to cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy organs.
Advantages over traditional methods
Safety and immunogenicity
Two popular viral vectors used in gene therapy, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), can occasionally elicit severe immune responses or integrate into the host genome, increasing the risk of insertional mutagenesis. On the other hand, because pseudo-viruses are not replicating and are less immunogenic, there is a lower chance of negative outcomes.
Efficiency and stability
The transduction efficacy of pseudovirus-based delivery systems is higher than that of conventional techniques. Moreover, pseudoviruses can be produced in large quantities using current cell culture techniques, which qualifies them for use in therapeutic settings.
Role of MIS
At Microbe Investigations Switzerland, we are pioneering the use of pseudovirus platforms to revolutionize therapeutic delivery. Our cutting-edge technologies enable precise targeting and efficient delivery of therapeutic agents, opening new frontiers in medical treatments. Our team of expert microbiologists provides advanced testing and insights to help you leverage these innovative methods for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
To learn more about how our pseudo-virus technology can transform your therapeutic delivery strategies or to schedule a consultation, please contact our specialists today.
References:
- Hojeij, R.; Domingos-Pereira, S.; Nkosi, M.; Gharbi, D.; Derré, L.; Schiller, J.T.; Jichlinski, P.; Nardelli-Haefliger, D. Immunogenic Human Papillomavirus Pseudovirus-Mediated Suicide-Gene Therapy for Bladder Cancer. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17, 1125. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17071125
