2. WHAT IS Bacterial gene therapy, or bactofection, is
BACTERIAL the technique of using bacteria for direct
GENE gene transfer into the target
THERAPY? organism, organ, or tissue.
3. HOW DOES Bacteria is used as a vector or vehicle to
BACTERIAL transport the information to a cell.
GENE Modified bacteria that contains plasmids
THERAPY are applied to the target gene. When the
WORK? vector is in the cytoplasm they are
destructed or they undergo lysis and when
they do so, the released plasmid gets in to
the nucleus and the transgene is expressed
by the transcription and translation
machinery.
4. WHAT KIND Different strains of bacteria can be used as
OF BACTERIA vectors. They are usually organized by
ARE USED? where they reside in the host. Some
localize in the cytoplasm, the vacuoles, or
in extracellular space. Most strains are
modified to reduce pathogenic (ability to
cause disease) potential or for better
penetration in to the cellular membrane.
Many potential strains still have yet to be
studied as to their importance in gene
therapy.
5. WHAT IS In experimental and clinical
BACTERIAL studies, bactofection has proven to be a
GENE useful tool in the therapy of several tumors
in mice. Melanoma, colon and lung
THERAPY
carcinoma are all examples. It showed
USED TO prolonged survival and inhibited tumor
TREAT? growth. E. coli is capable of treating cells
for cystic fibrosis. Many of these strains
have promising results for treatment but
have not been clinically tested yet, which
scientists hope to change in the future.
Bactofection can also be used for DNA
vaccination against numerous microbial
agents including viruses, parasitical
protozoa, fungi and even other bacteria.
6. POSITIVES OF Bacterial gene therapy has a very simplistic
BACTERIAL application as compared to other methods.
GENE It is easy to produce bacterial vectors as
THERAPY compared to other methods and bacterial
vectors do deliver more DNA as per others.
Bacterial gene therapy still costs less than
viral gene therapy, but gene therapy is still
a very costly technique.
7. NEGATIVES The main issue with bacterial gene therapy
OF BACTERIAL is the possibility of unwanted side effects
GENE with the bacteria. The immune system may
THERAPY cause clearance of the bacteria or
autoimmune reactions. Bacteria may gain
virulence factors back and could cause
serious infections. Bacteria are genetically
modified to reduce this possibility. Gene
therapy is also very expensive and not
everyone can afford it unless insurance
companies will pay, and gene therapy is
still in an experimental phase.
8. THE FUTURE The future is very promising for bacterial
FOR gene therapy. Though research for this
BACTERIAL technique is rare, the potential for cures
GENE and help for diseases and high and cannot
THERAPY go ignored. In the future, scientists can
examine a larger view of strains to use and
other diseases that they can possibly treat.
Bacteria’s selectivity in gene transfer can
also be improved in the future by
testing, such as organ-specific activity.
