Oncogenic Viruses: A Potential CRISPR Treatment

Abstract

Oncogenic viruses promote carcinoma development by establishing long-term latent infections, obstructing tumor suppressor pathways, and transforming host cells into unchecked, proliferating malignancies. Epstein- Barr Virus, the first oncogenic virus to be discovered, can promote lymphomagenesis in T cells, NK cells, and most commonly, resting memory B cells through the expression of oncoprotein LMP-1 and other proteins which may aid in B cell transformation. Human Papillomavirus is a common infectious agent found in epithelial cells and has been shown to pro-mote malignant transformation in host cells through the overexpression of oncoproteins E6 and E7. Hepatitis C Virus, whose life cycle is not fully known yet, can also lead to carcinoma development in hepatocytes, and HCV oncoproteins NS3, NS4A, and NS5B have been associated with oncogenic roles. A novel genetic approach involving a CRISPR/Cas treatment designed to dysregulate these viral oncogenes can be used to combat these infections and their resulting carcinomas. While the long-term effects of CRISPR treatments are still being researched, this gene therapy offers a robust selection of potential treatments regarding long-term diseases such as oncogenic viral infections.