Viral vectors for gene transfer into antigen presenting cells

Crucial insights for vaccine development have come from examining how the immune system responds to antimicrobial vaccines, as well as to viral vectors employed for gene therapy. The effectiveness of a vaccine depends upon both the method of antigen delivery and the presentation of antigen to lymphocytes. Much focus has turned to delivering antigens to dendritic cells, to promote clinically beneficial T- and B-cell responses. Recombinant viral vectors represent a powerful vehicle to deliver genes encoding microbial- or tumor-derived antigens to generate clinically beneficial immunity. Dendritic cell-based and viral vector-based vaccines are currently being evaluated in clinical trials as a means of inducing antitumor immunity.