vesicular stomatitis virus delta 51

Vesicular stomatitis virus delta 51 (VSVΔ51) is an engineered oncolytic rhabdovirus designed for selective replication within malignant cells. The virus features a specific deletion of the 51st amino acid (methionine) in its matrix (M) protein. In wild-type VSV, the M protein functions to block the nucleocytoplasmic transport of host messenger RNAs, thereby suppressing the host's innate antiviral interferon (IFN) response. The delta 51 mutation renders the virus unable to inhibit this response, meaning it is rapidly cleared by healthy cells with intact IFN signaling. However, because many cancer cells possess defective IFN pathways to evade immune surveillance, VSVΔ51 can selectively infect, replicate within, and lyse these tumor cells. This process, known as oncolysis, releases tumor-associated antigens and pathogen-associated molecular patterns, effectively turning the tumor into an 'in situ' vaccine and stimulating a systemic anti-tumor immune response. VSVΔ51 is frequently used as a platform for expressing therapeutic transgenes, such as cytokines or the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS).

Other names

Oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus delta 51Delta51-VSVDelta-51-VSVDelta 51-VSVM51-deleted vesicular stomatitis virusM-51-deleted vesicular stomatitis virusM 51-deleted vesicular stomatitis virus