Using viruses to "transport" genes creates opportunities to treat genetic hearing loss

(Dan Tri) - With more than 30 years of dedicated research in the field of audiology, the Argentinean female professor has made discoveries that bring hope to the hearing impaired.

Currently, there are more than 1.5 billion people worldwide with varying degrees of hearing loss. Without early intervention, this number could rise to 2.5 billion by 2050. A series of factors due to lifestyle habits, living environment, innate characteristics, etc. have significantly increased the number of people with hearing loss globally.

Although still in the experimental stage, a study by Professor Ana Belén Elgoyhen (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) still has great significance for people with hearing loss, especially congenital hearing loss, to have the opportunity to improve their quality of life.

There are more than 300 genes that cause congenital hearing loss.

According to experts, about 1 in 500 children are born with congenital hearing loss, more than 50% of cases have genetic causes. There are more than 150 genes that have been identified where mutations can cause deafness and it is expected to increase to 300 genes as new discoveries continue.

Professor Elgoyhen's sharing session at Hanoi Medical University is within the framework of VinFuture 2025 Science and Technology Week (Photo: Organizing Committee).

Popular methods at present such as using hearing aids, cochlear implants... only partially support hearing sounds but cannot completely recreate natural hearing.

In that context, Professor Elgoyhen's research seeks a new solution: not only helping deaf people hear, but also having the ability to restore innate hearing from the root - at the genetic level.

While researching a group of nerve receptors related to diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, Professor Elgoyhen accidentally discovered a gene that was not expressed in the brain but was active in the inner ear, opening up a new and long-term research direction for her in the field of audiology.

The research is built on a long-term roadmap: combining genetic survey and physiological mechanism survey, combining genes with the environment to clearly understand the mechanism of genetic hearing loss, and further "patching" the damaged gene segment.

Research into the possibility of using phages (viruses that infect bacteria) as gene delivery vehicles or biological manipulations to treat genetic hearing loss has brought many new breakthroughs. Meanwhile, gene therapy using viral vectors to deliver “healthy” copies of genes to restore hearing due to mutations has also had its first successes.

Combining the flexibility of both therapies could usher in a new era of less expensive and more personalized hearing treatment.

There are many challenges before applying in practice.

However, in reality, this method is much more complicated and requires much more time to research. There are complex genes, easily modified genes, mutations between different individuals, not to mention limiting side effects so that the gene can be inserted into the ear safely and effectively is also a big challenge.

Furthermore, when using phage or viral vector methods, high safety is required to avoid immune reactions and unwanted mutations. This is one of the points that needs special attention in this study.

However, with the advancement of medicine and technology and the time of careful research, experts certainly believe that in the next few decades, curing genetic hearing loss from the root is completely possible.

Professor Elgoyhen expressed his wish to cooperate with Vietnamese scientists to find treatment methods for the hearing impaired, share genetic data and apply advanced medical and technological advances.

VinFuture 2025 Science and Technology Week, taking place from December 2 to December 6 in Hanoi

With the theme “Together we grow - Together we prosper”, this year’s series of annual international events continues to affirm VinFuture’s mission in connecting knowledge, arousing the desire to serve and elevating Vietnam’s position as a center for promoting science and innovation in the world.

The week includes 7 main activities: Inspirational speeches, Science for Life discussion; VinFuture future exploration dialogue series; "The Touch of Science" exhibition, VinFuture award ceremony; exchange with VinFuture 2025 award winners; VinUni - Leadership Forum: Higher Education Innovation Conference.

The highlight of the event was the VinFuture 2025 Awards Ceremony, which took place on the evening of December 5 at the Hoan Kiem Theater (Hanoi). This is an event to honor outstanding scientific works that have had a positive and sustainable impact on millions, even billions of people around the world.

This year, the award will be given to works that bring the value of "Together we grow - Together we prosper" to humanity, as the theme has set out, affirming VinFuture's mission of honoring intelligence, spreading humanity and serving life.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/dung-virus-van-chuyen-gen-tao-co-hoi-dieu-tri-mat-thinh-luc-do-di-truyen-20251205152234204.htm