Otago researcher studies cancer-killing virus

University of Otago researcher Dr Mihnea Bostina looks at a Seneca Valley Virus attached to its...
University of Otago researcher Dr Mihnea Bostina looks at a Seneca Valley Virus attached to its cancer cell specific receptor. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
The life-saving potential of a virus that kills cancer is being improved by University of Otago researchers.

Researchers at Otago's Omni Electron Microscopy unit are using high resolution electron microscopy images to work on the recently-discovered Seneca Valley Virus (SVV), in the hope their work will help develop it for clinical use.

Unit academic director Mihnea Bostinasaid they had high hopes in what was a "hot'' international field of research.

The virus, which infects cancer cells, but not normal tissue, has become a main research project in Dr Bostina's laboratory.

Being able to clarify exactly how the anti-cancer virus interacted with human tumour cells would also help researchers find ways of making the potential viral therapy more effective in killing cancer cells, he said.

The recently-published research was the latest in a series of high-profile research studies produced by the unit.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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