Engineered bacteria launch and control an oncolytic virus.

The ability of bacteria and viruses to selectively replicate in tumors has led to synthetic engineering of new microbial therapies. Here we design a cooperative strategy whereby bacteria transcribe and deliver the Senecavirus A RNA genome inside host cells, launching a potent oncolytic viral infection. "Encapsidated" by bacteria, the viral genome can further bypass circulating antiviral antibodies to reach the tumor and initiate replication and spread within immune mice.