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[March 09, 2006]

New findings in the area of vector development detailed

(Science Letter Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)
Data on vector development are outlined in reports from Italy, France and Japan.

Study 1: Researchers review the design and applications of replication-competent herpes simplex vectors in a recent issue of Gene Therapy.

According to the review from Italy, "Replication-competent vectors are derived from attenuated viruses whose genes, that are nonessential for replication in cultured cells in vitro, are either mutated or deleted. The removal of one or more nonessential genes may reduce pathogenicity without requiring a cell line to complement growth."

"Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are potential vectors for several applications in human healthcare," said Rafaela Argnani and colleagues at the University of Ferrara. "These include delivery and expression of human genes to cells of the nervous systems, selective destruction of cancer cells, prophylaxis against infection with HSV or other infectious diseases, and targeted infection to specific tissues or organs."

"[Our] review highlights the progress in creating attenuated genetically engineered HSV vectors," the authors noted.

Argnani and associates published their study in Gene Therapy (Replication-competent herpes simplex vectors: design and applications. Gene Ther, 2005;12(Suppl. 1):S170-S177).

For additional information, contact Roberto Manservigi, Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy. mns@unife.it.

Study 2: Researchers review HSV-1-derived recombinant and amplicon vectors for gene transfer and gene therapy in a recent issue of Current Gene Therapy.

"Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) is a major human pathogen whose lifestyle is based on a long-term dual interaction with the infected host characterized by the existence of lytic and latent infections. Although in most cell types infection with HSV-1 will induce toxic effects ending in the death of the infected cells, the very deep knowledge we possess on the genetics and molecular biology of HSV-1 has permitted the deletion of most toxic genes and the development of non-pathogenic HSV-1-based vectors for gene transfer," scientists in France report.

"Several unique features of HSV-1 make vectors derived from this virus very appealing for preventive or therapeutic gene transfer," said Alberto L. Epstein and colleagues at the Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1. "These include the very high transgenic capacity of the virus particle, authorizing to convey very large pieces of foreign DNA to the nucleus of mammalian cells, the genetic complexity of the virus genome, allowing to generate many different types of attenuated vectors possessing oncolytic activity, and the ability of HSV-1 vectors to invade and establish lifelong non-toxic latent infections in neurons from sensory ganglia and probably in other neurons as well, from where transgenes can be strongly and long-term expressed."

Epstein and his collaborators reported, "Three different classes of vectors can be derived from HSV-1 replication-competent attenuated vectors, replication-incompetent recombinant vectors, and defective helper-dependent vectors known as amplicons. Each of these different vectors attempts to exploit one or more of the above-mentioned features of HSV-1. In [our] review we update the current know-how concerning design, construction, and recent applications, as well as the potential and current limitations of the three different classes of HSV-1-based vectors."

Epstein and his coauthors published their study in Current Gene Therapy (HSV-1-derived recombinant and amplicon vectors for gene transfer and gene therapy. Curr Gene Ther, 2005;5(5):445-458).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Alberto L. Epstein, Centre de Genetique Moleculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 5534, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 16 Rue Raphael Dubois, F-69100 Villeurbanne, France. epstein@cgmc.univ-lyon1.fr.

Study 3: Researchers report a database of recombinant viruses and recombinant viral vectors available from the RIKEN DNA bank in a recent issue of the Journal of Gene Medicine.

According to a recent report from Japan, "Viral vectors are required as gene-delivery systems for gene therapy and basic research. Recombinant adenoviruses (rAds) expressing genes of interest are being developed as research tools and many studies in vitro and in vivo have already been performed with such rAds. Shuttle vectors for rAds were constructed with full-length cDNAs and rAds were generated in HEK293 cells by the COS-TPC method. The rAds and shuttle vectors were developed by the Japanese research community and deposited in the RIKEN DNA Bank (RDB; http://www.brc.riken.jp/lab/dna/en/) for distribution to the scientific community."

"The Recombinant Virus Database (RVD; http://www.brc.riken.jp/lab/dna/rvd/) was established at the RIKEN BioResource Center (BRC) in Japan as the source of information about and distribution of the various resources," said Hideyo Ugai at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) and collaborators in Japan. "The RIKEN BRC is releasing more than 300 recombinant viruses (RVs) and 500 shuttle vectors, as well as all related information, which is included in a newly established database, the RVD."

"The RVD consists of information about the RVs, the inserted cDNAs and the shuttle vectors; data about sequence-tagged sites (STSs) that are markers of viral DNAs; and experimental protocols for the use of RVs," stated the scientists. "The new database and available resources should be very useful to scientists who are studying human gene therapy and performing related basic research. It is a web-interfaced flat-file database that can be accessed through the Internet."

"Moreover, all of the resources deposited in the RDB, which is a public facility in Japan, are available to researchers around the world," the authors added.

Ugai and associates published their report in the Journal of Gene Medicine (A database of recombinant viruses and recombinant viral vectors available from the RIKEN DNA bank. J Gene Med, 2005;7(9):1148-1157).

For additional information, contact Kazunari K. Yokoyama, Gene Engineering Division, RIKEN BioResource Center, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), 3-1-1 Koyadai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan. kazu@brc.riken.jp.

Keywords: Ibaraki, Japan, Vector Development, Vaccine Vector, DNA Vaccine, Adenovirus Vector, Vaccine Development, Immunology, Immunotherapy, Proteomics, Virology.

This article was prepared by Science Letter editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Science Letter via NewsRx.com.

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