Gene Therapy Of Tay Sachs Using A Modified Adenovirus

Tay Sachs is an incurable genetic disease that affects the central nervous system. It is a rare disorder that occurs chiefly in infants and children, especially those of the Jewish heritage. It is characterized by a red spot in the retina, paralysis, gradual blindness, and loss of muscle movement.

There are no treatments or cures for Tay-Sachs disease; however, through palliative care,  treatment is used to keep the child comfortable. Palliative care often includes prescription medication to relieve symptoms, the use of feeding tubes, physical therapy, and respiratory care to avoid issues with the lungs and airways.

Since children lack the HEXA-A gene it causes progressive damage and eventually the nervous system will shut down because it can no longer produce vital neurons needed to function the nervous system and life. Beta-hexosamindinidase is located in the lysosomes, which are structures in cells that act as recycling centers and breaking down the toxic substance. Beta-hexosamidnidase role is toxic and fatty substances called GM2 ganglioside. If the gangliosides become overpowering or too much, can cause destruction of the neurons. The excessive storage of the gangliosides in lysosomes is another factor that causes Tay-Sachs. Tay-Sachs occurs usually when the individual lacks the protein hexosamindinidase A and defected and alterations on chromosome 15 (specifically 15q23-q24). More than 50 mutations having been discovered on chromosome 15 and HEXA-A enzyme. The mutation can vary as in deletion, insertion, and splitting in which each mutation alters the protein. The mutation and disorder cause a decrease in enzymes activity. The severity of the disorder depends on the degree of the enzyme activity and deficiency. For example, one mutation includes, the mutation includes a G-to-T substitution at the 3-inch end of intron 5, which makes a short mRNA. Then skipping exon 6 and the polypeptide lacking 34 amino acids. (Tanaka

Tay Sachs Disease, or TSD, is a fatal genetic disorder that result in the degeneration of the nervous system. TSD is presented in three forms, those being classic infantile, juvenile and adult late-onset. The most commonly seen form of TSD is that of classic infantile Tay Sachs Disease. In the classic infantile form, infants generally experience their first symptoms by 6 months of age. Death of infants with TSD is typically by age 5. The symptoms that TSD infants will experience prior to death include: an onset of retardation, paralysis, dementia, blindness and reoccurring seizures. The absence of hexosaminidase-A, or what we will refer to as Hex-A, is the cause

Tay Sachs Disease is an inherited disease that results in slow destruction of the central nervous system and sensory systems, which is caused by a mutation resulting in a deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme. The missing enzyme, hexosaminidase A, functions in breaking down the fatty material ganglioside GM2, a chemical found in nerve tissue. Without this enzyme, lipids accumulate in the brain cells and destroy them, resulting in damaged nerve cells, neurological problems, and eventually leading to death several years after birth. The disease was first discovered by Waren Tay, a British ophthalmologist in 1881. Tay-Sachs disease is very rare in the general population and is relatively common among certain ethnic groups such as Eastern Europeans

Tay Sachs is a genetic disorder that occurs when there is a missing enzyme in the body. This causes a buildup of fatty substances in the nervous system (Gale). Beta-Hemosaminidase, or HexA, is the missing enzyme that causes the various nerve disorders that happen within Tay Sachs (NTSAD). This disease is inherited in a few different areas of the world, but it is most commonly

Tay-Sachs disease is an autosomal fatal genetic disorder, it is also a form of lipid metabolism disorder. Due to a buildup of fatty substances in

The genetic mutations that cause this disease are more commonly found in the Ashkenazi people with a Jewish heritage than those with other backgrounds. French-Canadian communities of Quebec, the Old Order amish community in Pennsylvania, and the Cajun population of Louisiana, are more responsible for the mutation for this disease. The HEXA has been discovered for the cause of Tay Sachs. The gene provides for making part of an enzyme, which is cause, "beta-hexosaminidase A", which plays an important role in the spinal cord and brain. Disruptions in the HEXA gene messes with the activity of beta-hexosaminidase A, and then prevents the enzyme from breaking down GM2 ganglioside. This results the the substance accumulating to toxic levels in the neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Continuous damage caused by the build up of GM2-ganglioside leads to the destruction of the neurons and thus causes the signs and symptoms of Tay-Sachs

The enzyme hexosaminidase is a crucial hydrolytic enzyme found in the lysosomes. When this enzyme no longer functions properly, lipids accumulate in the brain and cause interference with normal mental processes. Simple blood tests can determine presence of Tay-Sachs due to measurement of the levels of activity for hexosaminidase. The hydrolysis, (or breakdown) of the gangliosides requires three proteins: two of which are subunits of the enzyme hexosaminidase A, and the other being a small glycolipid transport protein that acts as a substrate (catalyst) for the enzyme. Deficiency in any of these proteins can lead to abnormal ganglioside storage, primarily in the lysosomes of neurons. Tay-Sachs disease occurs because of a mutation like this, either inhibiting or deactivating this process. The mutation occurs not at the active site, but instead because of incorrect function of intracellular transport. Infants with the disease Tay Sachs usually appear normal and healthy until three to six months of age. At this time, their development usually begins

The HEXA gene provides instruction for making part of an enzyme called beta-hexosaminidase A, which plays a very critical role in the brain and spinal cord. This enzyme is found in the lysosomes, which are the structures in cells that break down toxic substances and their job is that of a recycling center. Beta-hexosaminidase A helps break down a fatty substance called GM2 ganglioside. The mutations in the HEXA gene disrupt the activity of beta-hexosaminidase A, which prevents the enzyme from breaking down GM2 ganglioside. As a result, this substance accumulates to toxic levels, particularly in the neutrons in the brain and also the spinal cord. Damage by the buildup of GM2 ganglioside leads to the destruction of the neurons; Causing signs and symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease.

Gaucher’s Disease is an inherited disease of lipid metabolism caused by the failure to produce the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. It is the most common of the fourteen known lipid storage disorders which includes Tay-Sachs Disease, Fabry’s Disease, and Niemann-Pick Disease. There are three types of Gaucher’s Disease – Type I, II, and III. All three are characterized by the presence of Gaucher (lipid-laden) cells in the bone marrow and other organs such as the spleen and liver.

Gaucher’s disease which is also identified as glucocererbrosidase deficiency, this happens when the lipid, glucosylceramide, builds up in bone marrow, lungs, spleen, liver and sometimes the brain. It’s a hereditary disease. When the lipid as mentioned earlier is faulty glucosylceramide accumulates more commonly in the microphages which is a type of white blood cell.

The members will be a physician, a geneticist, an ethicist, a lawyer and a nurse. The physician, who is a pediatrician, makes the diagnosis of Tay Sachs. The geneticist, another specialist, provides more specific and applicable information on Tay-Sachs, such as causes and risks, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. These two specialists formulate a plan of care, which a nurse will implement. The ethicist informs them about accepted moral values and the proper human conduct, behavior and decisions in dealing with Tay-Sachs. The lawyer or legal practitioner informs the involved parties about the current laws and court decisions concerning or affecting the management of genetic disorders, such as Tay-Sachs. And the nurse carries out the detailed instructions of the geneticist and pediatrician as well as incorporates the guidelines inputted by the lawyer.

The word science comes from the Latin word "to know" (Science Made Simple, 2014). In

An ideal gene therapy treatment, would eliminate the need for daily insulin injections or strict monitoring of blood glucose levels. Under such a protocol, insulin would be produced naturally and the body?s metabolism would be able to control the production of the valuable enzyme. Currently, there are three types of potential protocols that can treat type I diabetes.