CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Viruseshave evolved very efficient mechanisms to introduce their DNA into recipientcells and manipulate the host cell machinery for their own propagation. Therefore, viruses have been the obviousstarting point in many experimental gene therapy protocols. The principles for the use of viral vectorsfor genetic manipulation are based on several criteria that would make thevector suitable and safe as a gene transfer agent for target organs and cells [10]. The viral vector should be able to transduceboth actively dividing and non-dividing cells and should be replicationdeficient in order to prevent cell damage and viral spread. Also, the viral vector should not elicit animmune response and should be free of wild type and helper virus. To date four viruses have been used inclinical trials, these include recombinant retrovirus, herpes simplex type 1 virus(HSV), adeno-associated virus (AAV), and Adenovirus (Ad). An essential difference between recombinantand vectors is that recombinant vectors retain many of their native viral geneswhile viral vectors are completely devoid of all viral genes, except for the cis-actingsequences that permit replication and packaging of the vector. In the following section, the salientcharacteristics of each vector will be briefly discussed, although this chapterfocuses primarily on adenoviral vectors.

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