pillspaythebills

pillspaythebills t1_j0z6gfc wrote

Good question! The crux of gene therapy is getting the missing gene delivered to the right place in the body to ensure it gets integrated into the patient’s DNA, so gene expression can occur. Most gene therapy treatments leverage a modified virus to deliver the gene. For this particular treatment, the researchers are using a modified herpes simplex virus to introduce the gene to the skin cells.

3

pillspaythebills t1_j0xdcbb wrote

Glad you found an answer and that you’re enjoying the topic! Gene therapy is really an incredible field of medicine. I’m happy to answer any questions though.

10

pillspaythebills t1_j0wqgre wrote

This is targeted gene therapy- these patients all lack a gene to make a specific protein in the skin. This gel introduces the gene so the body can make the protein. It could also be helpful to treat burn patients, but there are a lot of complexities in burn treatment, and I’m not sure what part the specific protein (collagen VII) plays in burn or other skin pathologies.

59