Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42357627›Full record

ReviewViruses2026

Overcoming Barriers to Clinical Translation: MG1 Maraba Virus as an Emerging Platform for Oncolytic Immunotherapy.

Tareq Abualfaraj

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Viruses, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Tareq AbualfarajDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-2747-679X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) exploit key hallmarks of cancer to selectively replicate in malignant cells, leading to tumor cell lysis, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and induction of antitumor immunity. These viral platforms have been engineered to enhance tumor specificity, intratumoral spread, and immunotherapeutic efficacy. Among them, rhabdoviruses, particularly vesiculoviruses, have emerged as promising candidates due to their rapid replication, high titers, and amenability to genetic manipulation. Maraba virus, a recently identified vesiculovirus, is a single-stranded negative-sense RNA virus with a favorable safety profile and minimal pre-existing immunity in humans. It demonstrates selective tumor tropism partly through low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-mediated entry and impaired antiviral responses in cancer cells. Genetic engineering of the wild-type Maraba virus led to the development of the MG1 strain, characterized by enhanced tumor selectivity, increased replication capacity, and potent cytolytic activity. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its efficacy as a monotherapy, a cancer vaccine vector expressing tumor-associated antigens, and in combination with chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. MG1 also reshapes the tumor microenvironment, converting immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" tumors, thereby enhancing immune-mediated tumor clearance. Compared to vesicular stomatitis virus, Maraba virus exhibits improved safety and reduced neurovirulence while maintaining strong oncolytic potential. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the biological characteristics of the MG1 Maraba virus, its genetic development, mechanisms of action, and current preclinical and clinical applications as a novel oncolytic immunotherapeutic agent.

Indexed as

ImmunotherapyNeoplasmsOncolytic VirotherapyOncolytic VirusesVesiculovirusAnimalsCancer VaccinesHumansTranslational Research, BiomedicalTumor MicroenvironmentCancer Vaccinescancer immunotherapyMaraba virusMG1 strainoncolytic virotherapyRhabdoviridaetumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID42357627
PMCPMC13307880

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.