title: Virus vector design in gene therapy.
abstract: The success of current and future gene therapy approaches is largely dependent upon the vector systems used to carry the therapeutic genes. Issues of efficiency, specificity and safety of gene transfer play an important role. Currently, the best vector systems available are based upon Nature's natural gene transfer systems, the viruses. This review will compare the three most common viral vector systems, retroviral, adenoviral and adeno-associated viruses, highlighting problems and issues of design, as well as suggesting the direction that future developments could take.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Virology, GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, Neuherberg, Germany. wolfi@gsf.de
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Günzburg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salmons
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics*