title: Applying horizontal gene transfer phenomena to enhance non-viral gene therapy.
abstract: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is widespread amongst prokaryotes, but eukaryotes tend to be far less promiscuous with their genetic information. However, several examples of HGT from pathogens into eukaryotic cells have been discovered and mimicked to improve non-viral gene delivery techniques. For example, several viral proteins and DNA sequences have been used to significantly increase cytoplasmic and nuclear gene delivery. Plant genetic engineering is routinely performed with the pathogenic bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens and similar pathogens (e.g. Bartonella henselae) may also be able to transform human cells. Intracellular parasites like Trypanosoma cruzi may also provide new insights into overcoming cellular barriers to gene delivery. Finally, intercellular nucleic acid transfer between host cells will also be briefly discussed. This article will review the unique characteristics of several different viruses and microbes and discuss how their traits have been successfully applied to improve non-viral gene delivery techniques. Consequently, pathogenic traits that originally caused diseases may eventually be used to treat many genetic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova 19085, USA. Electronic address: jakelmer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jacob J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Elmer
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-6106, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-6106, USA. Electronic address: krege@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Kaushal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rege
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology; D019076:Transgenes; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Bartonella henselae; Horizontal gene transfer; Mimicry; Non-viral gene delivery; Trypanosoma cruzi