• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1273-1281
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• 2020

Due to the broad host suitability of viral vectors and their high gene delivery capacity, many researchers are focusing on viral vector-mediated gene therapy. Among the retroviruses, foamy viruses have been considered potential gene therapy vectors because of their non-pathogenicity. To date, the prototype foamy virus is the only retrovirus that has a high-resolution structure of intasomes, nucleoprotein complexes formed by integrase, and viral DNA. The integration of viral DNA into the host chromosome is an essential step for viral vector development. This process is mediated by virally encoded integrase, which catalyzes unique chemical reactions. Additionally, recent studies on foamy virus integrase elucidated the catalytic functions of its three distinct domains and their effect on viral pathogenicity. This review focuses on recent advancements in biochemical, structural, and functional studies of foamy virus integrase for gene therapy vector research.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2003

Viral and non-viral vectors have been used in the delivery of genetic materials into animal cells and tissues, with each approach having pros and cons. Non-viral vectors have many useful merits such as easy preparation, low immunity and size tolerance of a transgene when compared to those of viral vectors. Delivery specificity may be achieved by complex formation between receptor ligands and a non-viral vector. In the present study, non-viral vector systems are investigated in an effort to find a practical delivery means for gene therapy, Receptor-ligand interaction between transferrin-receptor and transferrin was utilized for efficient gene transfer into cancer cells. A plasmid vector, pcDNA3 (LacZ) was ligated with a small duplexed oligo fragment in which a Biotin- VN$^{TM}$ phosphoramidite was placed in the middle of the oligo. The plasmid vector labeled by biotin was then conjugated with biotin-labeled transferrin via streptavidin. This trimeric conjugates were delivered to a hepatoma cell line, HepG2. The delivery efficiency of the trimeric conjugate was 2-fold higher than that of cationic liposomes used for transfection of a plasmid vector. These results demonstrate that a plasmid vector can be efficiently transferred into cells by forming a trimeric complex of plasmid vector-linker-ligand.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2003

Background: The usefulness of DNA vaccine at priming step of heterologous prime-boost vaccination led to DNA vaccine closer to practical reality. DNA vaccine priming followed by recombinant viral vector boosting via systemic route induces optimal systemic immunity but no mucosal immunity. Mucosal vaccination of the reversed protocol (recombinant viral vector priming-DNA vaccine boosting), however, can induce both maximal mucosal and systemic immunity. Here, we tried to address the reason why the mucosal protocol of prime-boost vaccination differs from that of systemic vaccination. Methods: To address the importance of primary immunity induced at priming step, mice were primed with different doses of DNA vaccine or coadministration of DNA vaccine plus mucosal adjuvant, and immunity including serum IgG and mucosal IgA was then determined following boosting with recombinant viral vector. Next, to assess influence of humoral pre-existing immunity on boosting $CD8^+$ T cell-mediated immunity, $CD8^+$ T cell-mediated immunity in B cell-deficient (${\mu}K/O$) mice immunized with prime-boost regimens was evaluated by CTL assay and $IFN-{\gamma}$-producing cells. Results: Immunity primed with recombinant viral vector was effectively boosted with DNA vaccine even 60 days later. In particular, animals primed by increasing doses of DNA vaccine or incorporating an adjuvant at priming step and boosted by recombinant viral vector elicited comparable responses to recombinant viral vector primed-DNA vaccine boosted group. Humoral pre-existing immunity was also unlikely to interfere the boosting effect of $CD8^+$ T cell-mediated immunity by recombinant viral vector. Conclusion: This report provides the important point that optimally primed responses should be considered in mucosal immunization of heterologous prime-boost regimens for inducing the effective boosting at both mucosal and systemic sites.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 1999

Retroviral vector provide a highly efficient method for gene transfer into eukaryotic cells. This vector system can be divided into two components; the retroviral vector itself and the retroviral packaging cell line. The key improvement in the design of these two components are, focused on two aspects; the reduction of helper virus production and high titer-virus. We used PA317 for retrovirus packaging cell line, for its high producibility of viral titer. To test the ability of the vectors to generate high titer-virus, we have chosen four different retroviral vectors; LN, LNSX, LNCX and LXSN. To test easily the viral titer, we have made recombinant construction with CD4 and CD8, checked their viral titer and stained their surface expression. LXSN which contain SV40 early promoter in front of neo gene showed best results in viral transient transfection assay, dot blot assay and surface expression. In addition, recombinant containing CD8 generally showed much higher viral titration and surface expression than CD4.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.351-362
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• 2004

The basic concept underlying gene therapy is that human diseases may be treated by the transfer of genetics material into specific cells of a patient in order to correct or supplement defective genes responsible for disease development. There are several systems that can be used to transfer foreign genetic material into the human body. Both viral and non-viral vectors are developed and evaluated for delivering therapeutic genes. Viral vectors are biological systems derived from naturally evolved viruses capable of transferring their genetics materials into host cells. However, the limitations associated with viral vectors, in terms of their safety, particularly immunogenecity, and their limited capacity of transgenic materials, have encouraged researchers to increasingly focus on non-viral vectors as an alternative to viral vectors. Although non-viral vectors are less efficient than viral ones, they have the advantages of safety, simplicity of preparation and high gene encapsulation capability. This article reviews the most recent studies highlighting the advantages and the limitation of gene delivery systems focused on non-viral systems compared to viral systems.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2000

Gene therapy is a method for the treatment of diseases with introducing the gene-engineered materials into a patient with gene-deficiency disease (e.g. cystic fibrosis) or cancer to produce a therapeutic protein in a patient's cells. Successful gene therapy requires establishing both gene expression systems and delivery systems. Viral and non-viral vectors have been used for gene delivery. Viral vectors have a high transfection efficiency, but are limited in relations to issues of safety, toxicity and immunogenecity. Non-viral vectors are easy to prepare and relatively safe. However, non-viral vectors have a low transfection efficiency. Cationic liposomes are the most available among non-viral vectors. Cationic liposomes have been used to transfect cells both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Besides, several formulations containing cationic lipid are being used in clinical trials in cases of cystic fibrosis or cancer. A crucial subject to the further development of gene delivery vectors will be a long-term gene expression with following characteristics; protecting and deliverying DNA efficiently, non-toxic and non-immunogenic, and easy to produce in large scale.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.221-227
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• 2004

Protocol was established for production of virus free healthy seeds using meristem ($0.3-0.5\;\cal{mm}$ in size) culture and field management under net house condition in tomato. The isolated meristem was found well established in MS liquid medium containing $0.1\;\cal{mg}\;1^{-1}\;of\;GA_3$. For shoot and root development either from primary meristem or from nodal segment of meristem derived plants, semisolid MS medium having $0.5\;\cal{mg}\;1^{-1}$ of IBA was found most effective. The elimination of the studied viruses (ToMV, CMV, ToLCV) in meristem-derived plants was confirmed by DAS-ELISA test. For field management of the virus eradicated meristem-derived plants, use of net house was found very effective measures to check viral vector visit and eventually infection. The meristem-derived plants were vigor and high yielder than the native seed derived plants and produced healthy seeds. Due to stop vector visit, no viral symptoms were observed in both $R_1\;and\;R_2$ plants cultivated in net house condition. Starting of viral infestation was observed in $R_2$ generation when they were planted in open house condition without control of vector visit. Therefore, for management of viral diseases, use of virus free meristem derived plantlets and their subsequent cultivation in soil under net house condition without using any vector killing insecticide can be recommended for producing healthy seeds in tomato. The developed protocol for environmentally healthy tomato seed production in Bangladesh may be used in the countries having similar tropical like environment conducive for viral vector visit.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.157-166
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• 2001

Almost all currently available retroviral vectors based on murine leukemia virus (MLV) contain one or more viral coding sequences. Because these sequences are also present in the packaging genome, it has been suggested that homologous recombination may occur between the same nucleotide sequence in the packaging genome and the vector, resulting in the production of replication competent retrovirus (RCR). Up until now, it has been difficult to completely remove viral coding sequences since some were thought to be involved in the optimum function of the retroviral vector. For example, the gag coding sequence present in almost all available retroviral vectors has been believed to be necessary for efficient viral packaging, while the pol coding sequence present in the highly efficient vector MFG has been thought to be involved in achieving the high levels of gene expression. However, we have now developed a series of retroviral vectors that are absent of any retroviral coding sequences but produce even higher levels of gene expression without compromising viral titer. In these vectors, the intron and exon sequences from heterologous cellular or viral genes are present. When compared to the well known MLV-based vectors, some of these newly developed vectors have been shown to produce significantly higher levels of gene expression for a longer period. In an experimental system that can maximize the production of RCR, our newly constructed vectors produced an absence of RCR. These vectors should prove to be safer than other currently available retroviral vectors containing one or more viral coding sequences.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.31-50
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• 2000

Almost all currently available retroviral vectors based on murine leukemia virus (MLV) contain one or more viral coding sequences Because these sequences are also present in the packaging genome, it has been suggested that homologous recombination may occur between the same nucleotide sequence in the packaging genome and the vector, resulting in the production of replication competent retrovirus (RCR). Up until now, it has been difficult to completely remove viral coding sequences since some were thought to be involved in the optimum function of the retroviral vector. For example, the gag coding sequence present in almost all available retroviral vectors has been believed to be necessary for efficient viral packaging, while the pol coding sequence present in the highly efficient vector MFG has been thought to be involved in achieving the high levels of gene e(pression. However, we have now developed a series of reroviral vectors that are absent of any retroviral coding sequences but produce even higher levels of gene expression without compromising viral titer. In these vectors the intron and exon sequences from heterologous cellular or viral genes are present, When compared to the well blown MLV-based vectors, some of these newly developed vectors have been shown to produce significantly higher levels of gene expression for a longer period. In an experimental system that can maximize the production of RCR, our newly constructed vectors produced an absence of RCR. These vectors should prove to be safer than other currently available retroviral vectors containing one or more viral coding sequences

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.621-628
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• 1998

The "evolution" of a thing, a custom, an organ is thus by no means its progressus toward a goal, even less a logical progressus by the shortest route and with the least expendit ure of force, but a succession of more or less profound, mutually independent processes of subduing, plus the resistances they encounter, the attempts at transformation for the purpose of defense and reaction, and the results of successful counteractions. The form is fluid, but the "meaning" is even more so (Friedrich W. Nietzsche).