New Perspectives and Uses of Ribosome-Inactivating Toxins and Related Lectins of Plant Origin

Dear Colleagues,

Plant ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) belong to well-characterized EC 3.2.2.22 N glycosidases toxins, which irreversibly and specifically depurinate a single adenosine in the a-SRL of rRNA in eukaryotic cells. Apoptosis of affected cells has been also related to DNA damage. RIP-based drugs, immunotoxins, chimeric fusions, use of nucleic acids encoding the toxin domain (suicide gene therapy), engineered micro–nanoparticles, dendrimers, or targeted exosomes have been not only used against hematological and solid tumors but also as antiviral diseases, such as AIDS. 

This Special Issue will cover all these strategies but focusing on the use of nanotechnology as a powerful strategy to increase the tumor penetration capability of RIPs as therapeutic agents or increase effectiveness of antiviral formulations.

Prof. Damian Cordoba-Diaz
Prof. Tomas Girbes
Guest Editors

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