Novel gene therapy viral vector using non-oncogenic lymphotropic herpesvirus.

ABSTRACT: Despite the use of retroviral vectors, efficiently introducing target genes into immunocytes such as T cells is difficult. In addition, retroviral vectors carry risks associated with the oncogenicity of the native virus and the potential for introducing malignancy in recipients due to genetic carryover from immortalized cells used during vector production. To address these issues, we have established a new virus vector that is based on human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), a non-oncogenic lymphotropic herpesvirus that infects CD4(+) T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. In the present study, we have altered the cell specificity of the resulting recombinant HHV-6 by knocking out the U2-U8 genes. The resulting virus proliferated only in activated cord blood cells and not in peripheral blood cell

SUBMITTER: Shimizu A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3569415 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature