Kavli Affiliate: Charles M. Rice
| Authors: Zakary S. Singer, Jonathan Pabon, Hsinyen Huang, Charles M. Rice and Tal Danino
| Summary:
The ability of bacteria and viruses to selectively replicate in tumors has led to synthetic engineering of new microbial therapies. Here we design a cooperative strategy whereby S. typhimurium bacteria transcribe and deliver the Senecavirus A RNA genome inside host cells, launching a potent oncolytic viral infection. Then, we engineer the virus to require a bacterially delivered protease in order to achieve virion maturation, demonstrating bacterial control over the virus. This work extends bacterially delivered therapeutics to viral genomes, and the governing of a viral population through engineered microbial interactions.