Bridging Topic: Cell and Gene Therapies of Infectious Diseases
With cell and gene therapy treatment methods, we aim to permanently eliminate or control viruses that lead to previously incurable chronic infections.
Potentially life-threatening infectious diseases (such as HIV/AIDS at the time) were among the first indications for gene therapy as early as the 1990s. Today, cell and gene therapy strategies are still being developed to permanently eliminate or control previously incurable chronic infections such as those caused by hepatitis B or Epstein-Barr viruses. In recent years, genome editing methods (e.g., with CRISPR/Cas) have been used primarily for this purpose. For example, this allows viruses in infected cells to be disrupted or excised from the host cell genome after integration. Alternatively, genes of the patient's cells can be edited, such as the HIV co-receptors, thus protecting the cells from infection. Another approach aims at "arming" immune cells of patients against viruses by molecular intervention. This involves isolating immune cells and/or equipping them with genetically modified receptors that enable them to recognise and eliminate infected cells. Such adoptive immunotherapies can prevent or cure severe courses of chronic infections, especially in patients who are immunocompromised due to prior treatment and therefore particularly at risk.
Mission of the Bridging Topic "Cell and Gene Therapies of Infectious Diseases"
The interdisciplinary group "Cell and Gene Therapies of Infectious Diseases" combines several disciplines and aims to include all aspects of intervention—from cellular and genetic mechanisms to innovative methods and synthetic approaches.
