ISSN: 2379-1764
+44 1223 790975
Maryam Ahmed
Department of Biology
Appalachian State University
USA
My research focuses on the mechanisms by which specific cells, such as cancer cells and immune cells, respond to a prototype negative strand RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Furthermore, I am interested in developing VSV an oncolytic agent used to treat cancer cells. VSV is currently being developed as an oncolytic agent due to its ability to potently kill a variety of cancer cells. However, the success of VSV-based cancer therapies is determined by several factors including the permissiveness of cancer cells to virus infection, the ability of the virus to spread through tumor tissues, and the ability of the host immune response to promote anti-tumor responses. We are interested in determining the potential of VSV as an anti-tumor agent for the treatment of highly aggressive tumors by investigating these factors in cell culture models and in small animal models of breast, cervical and prostate cancers. Furthermore, we are currently developing combination therapeutic strategies based on natural products that may serve to promote tumor cell killing by VSV and enhance anti-tumor immune responses.