In recognition of National Herpes Awareness Day, Fred Hutch virologist Dr. Keith Jerome shares a special message about the research he and others are conducting to find a cure for herpes simplex virus infections.
Jerome and his lab have drawn worldwide attention for their work using gene therapy to target HSV, which is responsible for cold sores and genital herpes. The team has engineered a herpes gene-cutting enzyme that homes in on nerve clusters where the virus hides.
Learn more about HSV research at Fred Hutch: https://www.fredhutch.org/en/research/diseases/herpes.html
Support Dr. Jerome’s research: Fredhutch.org/HSV
Visit us online: https://www.fredhutch.org/en.html
Follow us on social media @fredhutch:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HutchinsonCenter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fredhutch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fredhutch/
Video Rating: / 5
It sounds a fanciful idea but doctors in Liverpool are using the Herpes virus as a vaccine to treat tumours.
Traditional vaccines like the Flu or Covid jab don’t work on cancer because each patient’s tumours are so different. By injecting an altered version of the herpes virus directly into cancerous areas, doctors hope to attack the tumours and trigger the body’s immune system to specially attack the disease.
The technique is called Oncolytic virotherapy. It’s been used by doctors at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Liverpool who have benefitted from the research done to find a Covid vaccination.
The immune response could potentially be much stronger and more directed against the cancer.
• Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj
• Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news
Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/itvnews
Follow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/