Glycogen storage disease (Hannah)

This Wednesday, Hannah presented us her research on glycogen storage disease (GSD), a genetic disorder that affects glycogenolysis in hepatocytes resulting in low blood sugar and enlarged livers in patients. The G6PC gene is a central piece of her studies as disturbances on this gene directly affect glucose metabolism. One of the pathways she is investigating to cure GSD is gene therapy using bacteriophages, however, glycogen accumulation in cells hinders the delivery of these therapies. I find it interesting how many studies nowadays mimic the natural mechanisms of pathogens to benefit human health. The research I’m performing also leverages the phenotypic configuration of surface proteins from viruses (IAV) to deliver immunogenic epitopes. All of this makes me reflect on how much our species has evolved to the point we can confidently use typically “bad” organisms to our advantage. The use of nano or microorganisms/particles invisible to the naked eye is also incredibly fascinating—who would have thought we can edit small particles of our body to treat diseases? I’m interested to see where this research will lead us. Best of luck, Hannah!