Freiburg iGEM team 2010:
1. Short Summary Project:
Virus Construction Kit for Therapy
Gene delivery using viral vectors holds great promise for the treatment of acquired and inherited diseases. The human Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) is a small, non-pathogenic, single-stranded DNA virus gaining increasing attention being both versatile and effective. Taking current knowledge into account, we generated a recombinant, modularized, BioBrick-compatible AAV ‘Virus Construction Kit’. We provide parts for modified capsid proteins, targeting modules, tumor-specific promoters, and prodrug-activating enzymes as well as readily assembled vectors for gene delivery and production of non-replicative virus particles. The viral tropism is altered by N-terminal fusion or by loop replacement of the capsid proteins. Functionality of viruses constructed from our kit was demonstrated by fluorescent protein expression in infected cells and by prodrug-induced killing of tumor cells upon viral delivery of a thymidine kinase. Incorporating multiple layers of safety, we provide a general tool to the growing field of personalized medicine and demonstrate its use in tumor therapy.
2. Team:
Advisors: Dr. Kristian Müller, Dr. Katja Arndt, Sven Hagen, Tobias Baumann
Students: Achim Mall, Adrian Fischer, Anissa Bender, Anna Oschowitzer, Beate Kaufmann, Christian Weingärtner, Hanna Wagner, Jessica Günzle, Kerstin Klingele, Kira Meyerowich, Max Schelker, Stefan Bergmann, Volker Morath, Patrick Schindler, Timon Schober
3. Achievments:
Freiburg bioware team: Award for the Best Health or Medicine Project and a gold medal
Freiburg software team: silver medal
Website: http://www.molbiotech.uni-freiburg.de/iGEM/index.htm