Virus-Based Cures: A Future Threat or a Potential Savior?

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The latest installment of "War for the Planet of the Apes" revisits the catastrophic impact of a virus that decimated humanity, with a stronger strain introduced to facilitate a brain-targeting cure. This virus ultimately led to the extinction of 98% of humans while sparing apes. The discussion raises concerns about the potential for future scenarios where a virus designed to carry a cure could mutate and pose a threat to humanity. The theme of viruses and their unintended consequences is echoed in other films, such as "I Am Legend." While gene therapy and vaccines are mentioned, it's clarified that gene therapy targets specific DNA sections and vaccines typically use viral shells to stimulate immune responses, rather than employing diseases to combat diseases. Modified viruses are currently being explored in medical treatments for conditions like Glioblastoma and Myeloma.
Rainbows_
Has anyone watched the latest War of the Planet of the Ape? I forgot about the virus the wiped out humanity so I rewatched the earlier installments. And learned they needed to introduce stronger virus strain to serve as carrier for the formula to reach the brain because the earlier one showed rejection. And it was this virus that eventually was realized to be fatal to humans but not to moneys and it wiped out 98% of humanity.

This look plausible.. and won't we have similar scenario in the future where the virus carrier of the cure can mutate and destroy us? What other movies have you watched with this same theme beside the Apes installments?
 
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Really enjoyed the first two in the series. Looking forward to seeing this final one. Good reviews so far!
 
Rainbows_ said:
This look plausible.. and won't we have similar scenario in the future where the virus carrier of the cure can mutate and destroy us? What other movies have you watched with this same theme beside the Apes installments?
Gene therapy only patches small sections of DNA, it is not capable of infecting you. And most vaccines don't even have DNA in them, just the shell, which is what the immune system is triggered by. We don't really fight diseases with diseases.
 
newjerseyrunner said:
We don't really fight diseases with diseases.

Not yet, anyway...
 
Algr said:
Not yet, anyway...

There are a number of viruses including the measles and polio viruses that have been modified to treat such illness as Glioblastoma (brain tumor) and Myeloma (blood cancer).
 

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