Chandipura Virus' Oncolytic Potential in Experimentally Induced Tumor in Mice

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is a tropical pathogen, suggesting its involvement in childhood encephalitis syndrome in India. No reports are available in adult human beings for its pathogenicity. Similarly, in adult mice, the virus does not develop pathogenesis by parenteral route except for intracranial route of infection. The virus is remarkably nonpathogenic to adult immunocompromised nude mice. In vitro in tissue culture, the CHPV infects and kills many types of cells. All of these properties could qualify the CHPV to be a candidate virus for tumor therapy. To prove this, an experimentally induced tumor in a mouse was infected with live CHPV. The results showed that intra-tumoral injection reduced the volume of tumor and increased the longevity of the mice. The study concludes that the CHPV may be a safe tumor therapy virus. More precisely, the discovery of CHPV protein with oncolytic potential may lead to the development of novel drugs/therapeutics.