Application of Viruses as Carriers in Biotechnology

Abstract

Currently, the development of new vaccine technologies for the treatment of diseases is vital. The use of biotechnology in the application of viruses for the development of vaccines is a relatively new research platform. Viruses have become an important tool in biotechnology, and they are being used in the development of vaccines and anticancer drugs. Some of the viral vectors commonly used to develop vaccines are adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, herpes simplex viruses, retroviruses and lentiviruses, among others. Viral vectors have been used as vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, influenza, HIV and malaria. Viruses have also been used to target drugs to cancer cells by using engineered viral vectors that can selectively target and infect cancer cells. In this way, viral vectors can also be used to deliver antitumor drugs. This will selectively target cancer cells. Thus, vectors can be used to deliver therapeutic drugs directly to the tumor, resulting in reduced side effects and improved efficacy.