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Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Packaging HIV- or FIV-based Lentivector Expression Constructs & Transduction of VSV-G Pseudotyped Viral Particles
Published on: April 8, 2012
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) derived vectors: safety considerations and controversy over therapeutic
Gaetano Romano1, Pier Paolo Claudio, Tiziana Tonini
1Department of Neurosurgery, The Farber Institute for the Neurosciences, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, College Building, Suite 501, 1025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Gaetano.Romano@jefferson.edu
Abstract:
The latest generation of lentiviral vectors based on HIV-1 is one of the most efficient tools for gene transduction of mammalian cells. However, the possible employment of HIV-based vectors in clinical trials is a very controversial issue, mainly due to safety and ethical concerns. HIV-1 is a lethal pathogenic agent, which induces AIDS. Genetic vectors must derive either from viruses that are not pathogenic in humans, or that eventually just cause mild illnesses. Patients exposed to HIV-based vectors will test seropositive to certain components of HIV-1. In addition, there might be other possible adverse effects in patients that cannot be predicted, as many aspects of the pathogenesis of AIDS have not been completely understood yet. On these grounds, it seems necessary to improve the design of other lentiviral vectors, which derive from viruses that are not pathogenic in humans and are distantly related to primate retroviridae.
