oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus

Oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (oVSV) is a recombinant viral platform based on the rhabdovirus Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, engineered to selectively target and destroy malignant cells. The virus's natural tropism for cells with defective interferon (IFN) responses—a common hallmark of cancer—allows it to replicate selectively in tumors while being cleared by healthy cells. A common modification, VSV-ΔM51, involves a mutation in the matrix (M) protein that prevents the virus from blocking host cell nuclear-cytoplasmic transport, thereby enhancing its sensitivity to IFN and increasing safety. Beyond direct oncolysis, oVSV infection triggers an immunogenic cell death that recruits and activates T cells against tumor antigens. Clinical-stage variants often incorporate transgenes like human interferon-beta (IFN-β) to further stimulate the immune system or the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) for tracking and potential radiotherapeutic synergy.

Other names

oVSVrecombinant vesicular stomatitis virusVSV