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Modifying the host range properties of retroviral vectors
Author(s) -
Russell Stephen J.,
Cosset FrançoisLoïc
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the journal of gene medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1521-2254
pISSN - 1099-498X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-2254(199909/10)1:5<300::aid-jgm59>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - genetic enhancement , computational biology , viral vector , vector (molecular biology) , vectors in gene therapy , gene , biology , glycoprotein , host factors , function (biology) , virology , computer science , genetics , virus , recombinant dna
Gene therapy protocols would be greatly facilitated by the availability of targetable injectable vectors which could deliver genes in vivo to specific target cells or to specific disease sites. Efforts to develop such retroviral vectors are therefore a high priority in gene therapy research. In this review, we describe the current state of our understanding of the structure and function of the retroviral envelope glycoprotein complex. We then discuss the results of the various strategies that have been devised to modify the host range of the retroviral envelope glycoproteins with a view to achieving retroviral vectors capable of delivering their genes in a highly specific manner to selected human target cells. The strengths and limitations of these strategies are examined. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.