Virus+Vector

=__Virus Vector__=

Basics: A virus that has gone through virus vector has been modified in the lab and was introduced to a new genetic makeup into the cell. Virus Vector is used for therapeutic treatments or //gene therapy.//

In the 1960's, researchers thought, if viruses reproduce by inserting genetic material into cells, they could surely harness this trait by modifying their DNA that they insert. A viral vector, a modified cell using virus vector, is made by taking the virus, removing the harmful genetic material in it, and replacing the DNA with desirable genetic material. This process, inserting desirable DNA, is called transduction. The first successful attempt of transduction was in 1968 using plant cells.

Popular candidates for viral vectors are adenoviruses, retroviruses, herpesviruses, and lentiviruses. Researchers that make viral vectors don't just take out and put in DNA. They must be altered so they are safe, not be toxic, and that the virus is not killed in the process. Many cancer researchers are interested to the fact that viral vectors can target specific types of cells, and want to create targeted therapies that __go after tumor cells and nothing else.__

Virus vector is used for many purposes, such as to vaccinate plants against diseases and to make cancer attacking viruses. Virus vector has a variety and almost unlimited numbers of possibilities. They can also be modified to become dangerous viruses, so if the research goes into terrorist hands, it could be used to harm human, animal, or plant populations.

How does it work? Have you ever heard of the subunits of DNA? They are Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine. The adenine always pairs up with thymine and the guanine always pairs up with the cytosine. They make pairs that make "rungs" of a latter, or the double helix. Again, viruses become a modified "viral vector" when the DNA is changed by a vector. This is a difficult process. First, since it's nearly impossible to insert vectors into viruses, since they are...... extremely small. If you didn't know virus are WAY smaller than bacteria, and even with those 20x microviewers, you can't see them. So researchers have found a way over the years that they must put the virus into a special fluid called plasmid. So where does plasmid come from? It comes from the bacteria that lives in the large intestines, even yours. When put into plasmid, it is now easier to use the special enzymes that can cut the original DNA and get it out. Now the modified DNA and virus are put together inside a harmless bacteria. Inside the bacteria, the virus and the vector get close together to almost form a circle, but does not connect. The bacteria prefers a complete, circular shape, so it links the virus and vector for it to become a circleular shape. Now the new combination, the modified viral vector, is complete. Now, all researchers have to do is reproduce this bacteria and take the viral vector out. They can now inject the viral vector into organisms, ususally mice. The type of mice varies, but in pancreatic research, a species of mice, nude mice, are usually used. Researchers can easily see the cancer, already injected, either increase, decrease, or stay the same.

DNA The "rungs" of DNA

The basics of viruses

How virus vector works

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