viernes, 31 de julio de 2009

Virus del resfriado para abordar la fibrosis quística

Virus del resfriado para abordar la fibrosis quística

Según un estudio publicado en el último número de PLoS Biology

Un estudio que publica en el último número de PLoS Biology un equipo de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte, en Estados Unidos, se vale de un nuevo vector, en forma de virus del resfriado común, para el abordaje de la fibrosis quística.

Ray Pickles, del citado centro, coordina un trabajo en el que la modificación del virus ha permitido alcanzar un 60-70 por ciento de recuperación de células pulmonares, una cifra muy positiva si se tiene en cuenta que sólo se necsita el 25 por ciento de estas células para restaurar la función tisular. Hasta ahora, la terapia génica sólo había alcanzado un porcentaje inferior al uno por ciento de recuperación de este tipo celular.

fuentes: fibrosis.org

miércoles, 22 de julio de 2009

Nuevos avances IMPORTANTES fq

Common Cold Virus Could Lead To Cystic Fibrosis Cure

July 21, 2009 6:31 a.m. EST

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David Goodhue - AHN Reporter

Chapel Hill, NC (AHN) - Scientists with the University of North Carolina say they can deliver corrected genes to the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients using a virus known to cause the common cold.

Using the parainfluenza virus engineered to contain corrected cystic fibrosis genes, the scientists say they can deliver the gene to 60 to 70 percent of a patient's lung cells. Only 25 percent of the cells need to be targeted to restore normal lung function, the researchers said in a statement.

Their work appeared in the Public Library of Science journal Biology.

"When you consider that in past gene therapy clinical trials, the targeting efficiency has been somewhere around 0.1 percent of cells at best, you can see this is a giant leap forward," Ray Pickles, and associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Cystic Fibrosis Research and Treatment Center at UNC said in a statement.

Pickles and his colleagues are now working on ensuring the safety of the delivery system. They need to alter the virus more to reduce the risk of causing an inflammatory reaction

Read more: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7015850980?Common%20Cold%20Virus%20Could%20Lead%20To%20Cystic%20Fibrosis%20Cure#ixzz0LyK1JG0X