The Zika virus is to be pressed into service as a potential treatment for brain cancer, it was announced today.
Researchers have turned to the virus because it has an unusual ability to cross the blood brain barrier and get into the brain.
In the brain it targets stem cells – leading to it causing severe neurological problems in babies and children.
The scientists at Cambridge University are being backed by Cancer Research UK on the project aimed at turning it into a "vector" to carry therapies into the brain.
Some £200,000 is being spent on the project.
Researcher Dr Harry Bulstrode said: “Zika virus infection in babies and children is a major global health concern, and the focus has been to discover more about the virus to find new possible treatments. We’re taking a different approach, and want to use these new insights to see if the virus can be unleashed against one of the hardest to treat cancers.
“We hope to show that the Zika virus can slow down brain tumour growth in tests in the lab. If we can learn lessons from Zika’s ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and target brain stem cells selectively, we could be holding the key to future treatments.”
Dr Iain Foulkes, from Cancer Research UK, said: "Dr Bulstrode’s research is an incredibly innovative way to expand our understanding of how we can beat this disease, which remains a notorious challenge."
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