5-1.4.5 Lentivirus
• They are subclass of retroviruses.
• They are more efficient and advantageous for gene transfer than other vectors due to following reasons-
• Unlike retroviruses which can infect only dividing cells, lentiviruses can be used as vectors due to their ability to infectboth dividing and non-dividing cells.
• Low immunogenicity
• Stable, long term transgene expression
5-1.5. Properties of viralvectors usedin gene transfer
The properties of different viral vectors are listed in Table 5-1.5.
Viral vectors |
Genome |
Insert capacity (kb) |
Specific integration |
Long-term maintenance |
RNA intermediate |
Retroviruses |
ssRNA with DNA intermediate |
1-7 |
Y |
Y |
RNA with DNA intermediate |
Adenovirus |
dsDNA |
2-38 |
N |
N |
N |
Adeno-associated virus |
ssDNA |
4.5 |
Y |
Y |
N |
Herpes simplex virus |
dsDNA |
50 |
N |
Y |
N |
Lentivirus |
RNA with DNA intermediate |
7-18 |
Y |
Y |
RNA with DNA intermediate |
Y-Yes; N-No.
Table 5-1.5: Various viral vectors used in gene transfer