Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) represents a significant advancement in therapeutic
medicine, offering unique molecular and cellular characteristics that make it exceptionally suitable for medical applications. The bullet-shaped morphology, RNA genome organization, and
cytoplasmic replication strategy provide fundamental advantages for both vaccine development
and oncolytic applications. VSV’s interaction with host cells through the low-density lipoprotein
receptor (LDL-R) and its sophisticated transcriptional regulation mechanisms enables precise control
over therapeutic applications. The virus demonstrates remarkable versatility through its rapid replication cycle, robust immune response induction, and natural neurotropism. Recent technological
innovations in VSV engineering have led to enhanced safety protocols and improved therapeutic
modifications, particularly in cancer treatment. Attenuation strategies have successfully addressed
safety concerns while maintaining the therapeutic efficacy of the virus. The molecular and cellular
interactions of VSV, particularly its immune modulation capabilities and tumor-selective properties,
have proven valuable in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. This review explores
these aspects, while highlighting the continuing evolution of VSV-based therapeutic approaches in
precision medicine.
Keywords: vesicular stomatitis virus; oncolytic virotherapy; vaccine vector; pathogenesis;
immune evasion