Research is currently being undertaken at the University of Otago (Dunedin, NZ) to test if the calicivirus found in rabbits can be used as a carrier to deliver vaccines and treatments to fight tumors in humans. The type of calicivirus that infects rabbits has to date never infected humans. In rabbits the virus causes haemorrhaging, eventually leading to bleeding out of body orifices and ultimately death.
The idea behind packaging the vaccines and treatments (by way of tumor proteins) into viruses is to help them get across the barriers of the body. Ideally they would be administered through the skin or through the mucus cavities (ie, the nose). These vaccines and treatments would cause an immune system response, with the idea that the immune system will see tumors as foreign invaders and fight them off. Currently tumors are somewhat "tolerated" by the body as they create proteins which make them appear harmless to the body.
This research, however, is still very young. So far testing has been limited to petri dishes and computer models, but with promising results.
Oakes Holland 41741566
References:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2008/2208447.htm
http://microbiology.otago.ac.nz/dept/staff/young_sarah/
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