Progress and problems with the use of viral vectors for gene therapy

Gene therapy involves the use of vectors to deliver genes to target cells, tissues or organs. Adenovirus is one of many viral vectors that delivers genes to target cells in gene therapy. When Dr. Stephanie Cherqui first introduced gene therapy, immune cells were removed from the body and infected with adenovirus containing functional genes lacking in patients with cystine disease. - Gene therapy is an innovative way to treat and prevent diseases (eg cancer, viral infection, etc.) by replacing the mutated gene with a healthy copy of the same gene. The concept of gene therapy was first introduced to the scientific community in the 1960s and 1970s, but it has just begun as a medical practice.

Transduction is the process of introducing foreign DNA into cells by viral or viral vectors. Genetically modified viruses can be used as viral vectors to transfer target genes to other organisms in gene therapy. The virulence gene is first removed from the virus and then inserted into the target gene. The sequence that allows the virus to insert the gene into the host organism must remain intact. Popular viral vectors evolved from retrovirus or adenovirus. Other viruses used as vectors include lentiviruses, poxviruses, and herpes viruses. The type of virus used depends on whether the target cells and DNA are permanent or transient.

Many vectors are used to deliver genes or genetic material to defective cells or tissues. These vectors are divided into two groups, viruses and nonviruses. An important non-viral vector is a liposome. It is usually easy to produce and has relatively low toxicity and immunogenicity. Gene delivery of non-viral vectors is inefficient because it is hampered by low transfection rates. More efficient methods for gene transfer are virus vectors, ie viruses used as vectors for gene therapy (16). In viral vector delivery systems, all viral genes of pathogenic proteins are eliminated and replaced by preferred genes. The most common viruses are summarized in Table 1. Infection of recombinant wild-type virus into viral vector is an important side effect of carriers that brings fatal consequences (12)