Natalie Raso - Weapons of Targeted Destruction: Using Viruses to Kill Cancer
    Future Research

Project Information

Abstract

Project Summary

Background

Purpose

Scientific Thought

Hypotheses

Apparatus and Materials

Genetically Engineered KM110red Herpesvirus


Methodology

Procedure for Cell-Line Splitting

Procedure for KM110r Infection

Procedure for Immunofluorescent
Microscopy Imaging


Statistical Analyses

Proliferation Assay Analyzed Data

Major Results

Graphed Results

Discussion of Statistics

Controls and Variables

Conclusions

Discussion

Discussion of KM110r Efficacy

Successes and Failures

Sources of Error and Data

Limitations


Future Research

Applications

Glossary

Bibliography

Acknowledgements
 

The outcome of this experimentation poses some interesting questions.

 

  • It was an unexpected finding that complete lysis of U2OS infected cells did not take place at the 39°C incubation conditions. At time period 4 at 39°C conditions, an average of only 26% of U2OS+ were killed, whereas by this time in the 34°C and 37°C experiments, they were 100% killed by this time point. The reason for this could be that these conditions simply delay cell destruction. However the alternative possibility is that at 39°C, the U2OS cells are developing an antibody-like resistance to KM110r. An investigation must take place to examine this occurrence further. Such research would entail infecting U2OS cells and examining them past a 5-day infection, possibly 8 days, and determining whether the growth curve decreases (indicating a delay in lysis) or increases (indicating a resistance or antibody to KM110r at 39°C).

 

  • This was an in vitro experiment, meaning that this experimentation took place in an artificial environment. Therefore, it does not take into account genetic differences from host to host the way that an in vivo study would. That being said, in vivo trials have been explored in the murine model of infection, with promising results (unpublished data). Further potentials for KM110 include the possibility of clinical trials, hopefully leading to the development of KM110r into a mainstream cancer therapy.


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