Properties of human foamy virus relevant to its development as a vector for gene therapy.
The Spumaviridae (foamy viruses) are increasingly being considered as potential vectors for gene therapy, yet little has been documented of their basic cell biology. This study demonstrates that human foamy virus (HFV) has a broad tropism and that the receptor for HFV is expressed not only on many mammalian, but on avian and reptilian cells. Receptor interference assays using an envelope-expressing cell line and a vesicular stomatitis virus/HFV pseudotype virus demonstrate that the cellular receptor is common to all primate members of the genus. The majority of foamy virus particles assemble and remain sequestered intracellularly. A rapid and quantitative method of assaying foamy virus infectivity by reverse transcriptase activity facilitates the use of classical protocols to increase infectious virus titres in vitro to > or = 10(6) TCID/ml.
Hill
Claire L
CL
Department of GU Medicine and Communicable Diseases, Jefferiss Research Trust Laboratories, Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary's, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK1.
Bieniasz
Paul D
PD
Department of GU Medicine and Communicable Diseases, Jefferiss Research Trust Laboratories, Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary's, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK1.
McClure
Myra O
MO
Department of GU Medicine and Communicable Diseases, Jefferiss Research Trust Laboratories, Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary's, Praed Street, London W2 1NY, UK1.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000378:metabolism; D016092:Spumavirus
D011991:Receptors, Virus; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase