Viral Gene Therapy: Use DNA to prevent heart failure

Does using viruses as a form of therapy sound like science fiction to you? You’d be surprised, but it’s an uprising technique to deliver functional genes into patients. In this lab, you will learn about the use of modified viruses and how to equip them with therapeutic genes. Take advantage of the recent exciting research findings in the field, and try to develop a potential cure for heart failure. Will you be able to design a virus, which helps revert heart failure in patients?

In this section, you can find all the related theory needed to complete the course.

Good luck and have fun!

• Gene Therapy
  • Viral Vectors
  • Therapeutic Gene
  • Targeting
• Adeno-associated Virus (AAV)
• Cardiac cycle
• Heart Failure
  • SERCA2a
  • Ejection Fraction

Techniques used in this simulation:

• Recombinant AAV Production
  • DNA Transfection
• Animal Models
  • Knock-Out Mouse
• Transmission Electron Microscope

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Acknowledgement

The content of these theory pages has been developed based on the resources provided by: OpenStax College, Gene Therapy. (OpenStax CNX. Nov 1, 2016)

The heart wall image was provided by Blausen.com staff (2014). "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2) DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. - Own work