Lentiviral Vectors in Gene Therapy

A Viral Biorealm page on the family Lentiviral Vectors in Gene Therapy

Lentiviruses are some of the most recognizable–and life threatening–vertebrate viruses. Viruses in this genus include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Their exogenous characteristics make them incredibly ideal for use in gene therapy.
Gene therapy requires delivery vehicles to transfer a gene into an organism's chromosome. Lentiviral vectors are highly successful in permanently changing the target cell and thus increase the efficiency of therapeutic treatment. Hemophilia and other blood-related diseases, AIDS, and various cancers are current targets of lentiviral vectors and they can be used in conjunction with other antiviral and anticancer drugs.

About Lentiviruses

Retroviruses are characterized by their use of the host cell's reverse transcriptase to create DNA from viral RNA. The DNA is then incorporated into the host's DNA genome. Viruses in the genus lentiviruses have slow incubation periods and are categorized into five different serotypes based on their host: primates, sheep/goats, horses, cats, and cattle. RELIK was found to be the first endogenous lentivirus, infecting rabbits, dating millions of years [x]. Present lentiviruses are exogenous, incorporating their DNA into a host's upon infection, and they can infect non-dividing cells.

References

[1] Katzourakis, A., M. Tristem, O. G. Pybus, R. J. Gifford. 2007. "Discovery and analysis of the first endogenous lentivirus." Proceedings of the NAtional Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 104: 6261-6265.

Page authored by Irene McIntosh for BIOL 375 Virology, December 2012