Does gene therapy affect non-patients that are in contact witth the patient?

[Damian]

Can surplus vectors infect someone who is not the patient and change their DNA?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Damian]

Helloo?? Is this forum active????

[Strange]

Not a subject I know much about but I did a quick search and it doesn't look as if contagion is a significant risk factor. I'm not sure why. Presumably they choose vectors which are not easily transmitted (or are modified to be less easily transmitted).

 

For example, this review of the risks only has a passing mention of contagion: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC543871/

Edited January 19, 2017 by Strange

[Endy0816]

What I'm remembering are limited replications and typical precautions taken by the patient/associates against contact with bodily fluids. Not sure on accuracy there though.

Edited January 20, 2017 by Endy0816

[Prometheus]

It depends on the vector - each will have it's own risk assessment and treatment will proceed based on those risks. I've only ever worked with very low risk vectors (fowlpox with no replicative ability) and extra advice to patients was no swimming and avoid babies and both of those were entirely precautionary with no specific rationale for them.

 

The company supplying the drug have to supply a document like this for the risk assessment.

[Damian]

It depends on the vector - each will have it's own risk assessment and treatment will proceed based on those risks. I've only ever worked with very low risk vectors (fowlpox with no replicative ability) and extra advice to patients was no swimming and avoid babies and both of those were entirely precautionary with no specific rationale for them.

 

The company supplying the drug have to supply a document like this for the risk assessment.

And, does the clinical approved tratments (like cystic fibrosis) use low risk vectors?

[quickquestion]

Does gene therapy only change organs, or can it cause mutations such as changing physical apperance, gender, and or species?