Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
12:42

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo

Published on: January 7, 2019

[Oncolytic poxviruses]

G V Kochneva, G F Sivolobova, K V Iudina

    Molekuliarnaia Genetika, Mikrobiologiia I Virusologiia
    |June 19, 2012
    PubMed

    Insights

    This review explores engineered poxviruses for cancer therapy, focusing on tumor cell lysis, immune response induction, and apoptosis. Modified poxviruses show promise in clinical trials for treating various cancers.

    Area of Science:

    • Oncology
    • Virology
    • Immunology

    Context:

    • Poxviruses are being engineered as oncolytic agents for cancer treatment.
    • Key modifications include virus attenuation and gene insertions to enhance tumor specificity and therapeutic effects.

    Purpose:

    • To review current advancements in the selection and construction of poxviruses for cancer therapy.
    • To discuss strategies for enhancing oncolytic virotherapy efficacy, including virus attenuation and genetic engineering.

    Summary:

    • Poxvirus attenuation via thymidine kinase and viral growth factor gene inactivation increases tumor selectivity.
    • Incorporation of immunomodulatory genes (interleukins, GM-CSF) and tumor-apoptotic genes (p53) enhances therapeutic potential.
    • Combination therapies with prodrugs and angiogenesis inhibitors show encouraging results, with two poxviral strains in Phase III trials.

    Impact:

    • Engineered poxviruses offer a novel approach to cancer treatment, inducing antitumor immunity and apoptosis.
    • Genetic modifications improve virus specificity for tumor cells, minimizing off-target effects.
    • Ongoing clinical trials indicate significant potential for poxviruses in oncotherapy.

    More Related Videos

    A Simple and Efficient Approach to Construct Mutant Vaccinia Virus Vectors09:16

    A Simple and Efficient Approach to Construct Mutant Vaccinia Virus Vectors

    Published on: October 30, 2016

    Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses12:08

    Ex Vivo Infection of Live Tissue with Oncolytic Viruses

    Published on: June 25, 2011

    Related Concept Videos

    Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle01:20

    Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

    Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...
    Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle01:16

    Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

    The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. This process is primarily observed in temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), which infects Escherichia coli. The cycle allows the viral genome to persist across bacterial generations while keeping host cells viable.Integration of the Viral GenomeUpon infection, bacteriophage lambda attaches to the bacterial surface and injects its...
    Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

    Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

    Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the lytic replication...
    Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

    Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

    Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
    Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

    Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

    Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
    Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response01:27

    Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response

    Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
    Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...