Future of Engineering

Scientists' creation of the weak virus signals the beginning of a new era in vaccination.

A team of molecular biologists and computer scientists at Stony Brook University have designed and synthesized a new class of weakened polioviruses. They have used a synthesizing method with computer software to systematically re-code the poliovirus genome.

In order to artificially synthesize a virus the genome has to be decoded first. But decoding a polio virus that had almost (10442) possibilities isn't a simple task. Therefore, using a powerful computer algorithm, the team found particular re-codings of the genome predicted to weaken the virus.

"The researchers made hundreds of small mutations in the genome that perfectly preserved the viral proteins but changed the way those proteins were encoded by RNA (ribonucleic acid), so that pairs of amino acids were added by transfer RNAs (tRNAs) that rarely work together in normal proteins. They call the process “Synthetic Attenuated Virus Engineering,” or “SAVE.” The resulting virus contains completely authentic, wild-type poliovirus proteins."

The most highly decoded virus will be weakened, so it will no longer infect cells anymore. Thus a virus modified using ‘SAVE’ technology might act as a vaccine by providing immunity against the normal virus. The innumerable alterations in the code ensures that the virus would never regain its wild nature.

Positive results have emerged from testing done on mice. Currently researchers are keen on using it in animal vaccination, after further exploration it can be used in human vaccines too.

Synthesis of an artificial virus throws open the possibilities of mutating other virus strains too. That surely looks like a giant leap for Molecular Genetics and vaccination.

Source - Commcgi.cc.stonybrook.edu

Labels: Bio-engineering