Nephrology and Infectious Diseases

Gene Therapy for Infectious Diseases

Gene therapy is being investigated as an alternative cure for a extensive range of infectious diseases that are not acquiescent to standard clinical management. Gene therapy holds considerable potential for the treatment of both hereditary genetic disorders and infectious diseases. Gene therapy for infectious diseases requires the introduction of genes designed to specifically inhibit the gene expression or function of gene products, such that the replication of the infectious agent is blocked. In addition to this intracellular intervention, gene therapy may be used to intervene in the spread of the infectious agent at the extracellular level. This could be achieved by sustained expression in vivo of a secreted inhibitory protein or by stimulation of a specific immune response.