Viral Gene Drive Could Help Offer a New Way to Fight Herpes

  Scientists are taking a huge step toward combating herpes infections by developing a viral gene drive. This new technology uses engineered DNA to spread therapeutic traits between herpes viruses, which could potentially lead to a cure. A gene drive is a genetic tool that can rapidly make specific genes through a population, traditionally in insects like mosquitoes. In this specific study, researchers adopted the concept of viruses. Instead of transmitting genes from parent to offspring, the gene drive spreads from one herpes virus to close viruses during infection. The team of scientists engineered a herpes virus with a gene drive that includes CRISPR-based genetic instructions. When a virus containing the gene drive connects with another herpes virus, the CRISPR system cuts the latter’s DNA, prompting the repair process to incorporate the gene drive DNA into its genome. 

The researchers tested a gene drive in mice by infecting them with two types of herpes viruses. One of the viruses was glowing yellow, and the other was engineered with the gene drive, which then produced a red fluorescent protein. Within four days of this, up to 90% of the viruses in the mice’s brains had adopted the gene drive, effectively converting the yellow virus to red. Even dormant herpes viruses were susceptible to this technique, a huge breakthrough for this research. 

Personal Opinion: 

The gene drive being used as a tool to help fight herpes is an exciting breakthrough in science and medicine. It shows a big improvement in how we can target infections that have adapted to traditional treatment. I think this could be scary because there could be big risks to taking this route to help cure diseases. This study shows the possibility of gene editing and its ability to help with medical issues. If this is successful for many procedures, then it could be a big breakthrough in treatments and the medical world. 

Tags: #GeneDrive, #Herpes, #Treatment, #Medical, #Disease, #CRISPR, #GeneEditing, #DNA, #Genetics, #Mosquitoes 

Links:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/gene-drive-herpes-simplex-virus 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18678-0#:~:text=In%20herpesviruses%2C%20gene%20drive%20involves,modification%20into%20the%20viral%20population.