baculogenes: designing an improved gene therapy … · project ‐ gene therapy: an integrated...

GENETHERAPYFORPROSTATECANCER‐3

GIANTCONSORTIUMGENETHERAPY

TheroleofYCR‐CRUwithintheGIANTconsor3umistocarryoutinvitrocellmodeltes3ngofnovelgenetherapyvectorsandmolecules:‐

LNCaPmetasta3cprostatecellsgrownin3Dandinfectedwithanadenovirus(blue=cellDNA,

green=adenovirus).

Electron microscopy showing holes observed inouter cells of an LNCaP spheroid 3 days aJerinfec3onwithaprostatetargetedadenovirus.

Damagedcells

Healthycells

The aim of the EU‐fundedGIANT project ‐ Gene Therapy: AnIntegrated Approach for Neoplas3c Treatment ‐ is to developandtestnovelprostate‐targetedgenetherapyvectors.

BPH‐1prostatecells(turquoise=cellnuclei)boundtotransferrinpep3de(red),apoten3almoleculefortarge3nggenetherapyvectors.

Baculovirus

BACULOGENES:DESIGNINGANIMPROVEDGENETHERAPYVECTOR

The insect baculovirus AcMNPV is another promising gene therapyvectorthatisbeingdevelopedbytheEUfundedBaculogenesproject.

AdvantagesofAcMNPVinclude:‐• LargeinsertcapacityforforeignDNA.• Nopre‐exis3ngimmunity(helpingitevadeourimmunesystem).• Efficientnucleargenedeliverytodividingandnon‐dividingcells.• Itcaneasilybeproducedinexpensivelyinlargequan33es.

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Our aims within the Baculogenesproject are: 1. to determine whatsignals govern packaging of viral DNA;2. toengineer thevirus tobetargetedtowards prostate cancer cells and toonly express therapeu3c genes withinthosecells.