Scientists identifies gene ‘CSA6’
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Science & Technology
- Published
27th Aug, 2022
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Context
Scientists have identified a gene called CSA6. This gene can hold the key to prevent fungal infection Candidiasis.
What is CSA6?
- CSA6 is a gene identified in Candida albicans, a fungal species infamous for causing high rates of morbidity and mortality under certain immuno-compromised conditions such as AIDS or during cancer treatment.
- This gene can hold the key to prevent the fungal infection Candidiasis which often affects intensive-care unit(ICU) patients, cancer patients and patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
What is gene therapy?
- Gene therapy is a medical approach that treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem.
- Gene therapy techniques allow doctors to treat a disorder by altering a person’s genetic makeup instead of using drugs or surgery.
- The earliest method of gene therapy, often called gene transfer or gene addition, was developed to:
- Introduce a new gene into cells to help fight a disease.
- Introduce a non-faulty copy of a gene to stand in for the altered copy causing disease.
- Gene therapies are being used to treat a small number of diseases, including an eye disorder called Leber congenital amaurosis and a muscle disorder called spinal muscular atrophy.
- Many more gene therapies are undergoing research to make sure that they will be safe and effective.
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