Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
introduction of genes into cells using viral vectors or other nanoparticle
platforms is termed transfection), have large capacity for incorporation of
DNA cassettes, and have low potential for oncogenesis (the process by which
a normal cell is transformed into the cancerous cell) because they do not
insert their genome into the host genome (Russell, 2000). Nanotechnology
has brought the development of Ad vectors for medical applications to the
next level. Novel strategies have been applied that allow to further develop
and fine-tune Ad vectors to achieve improved gene delivery. Moreover,
new trends have been developed including the development of specifically
targeted formulations. Further methods to exploit Ads for imaging purposes
and delivery of small molecules are also explored (reviewed in Singh &
Kostarelos, 2009) (see also Chapter 8).
..1 Adeno-Associated Virus: A Mammalian Virus
AAV are from the
family. AAV infects humans and other primates.
Twelve human serotypes are known (AAV-1 to AAV-12). The most popular
and extensively utilized serotype is AAV-2. AAV is not known to cause a
disease. Productive AAV infection can only occur in the presence of a helper
virus, such as Ad (serotype 5) or
Parvoviridae
Herpes simplex virus
serotype 1 (Handa &
Carter, 1979).
The particles are non-enveloped icosahedral particles with
= 1 symmetry
and a diameter of about 27 nm; the capsids are formed by 60 identical copies
of one coat protein. The genome is a single-stranded linear DNA genome;
sense and antisense strands are packed into the AAV capsids with equal
frequency (reviewed in Daya & Berns, 2008)
The main applications of AAV are in the field of biomedical nanotechnology.
AAV-based vectors are utilized in gene therapy because of their propensity
to integrate into the human genome in a specific and controlled fashion
(discussed in Chapter 8).
T
..1
Canine Parvovirus
: A Mammalian Virus
CPV is a mammalian virus from the
Parvoviridae
family that infects canids
(dogs). The particles have
= 1 symmetry with an average diameter of 26
nm. The capsid is formed by 60 copies of the main coat protein VP2 and a
few copies of VP1 and VP3. The genome is linear single-stranded DNA (Tsao
et al
T
., 1991). CPV VLPs can be produced for safe use in nanotechnology
in mammalian or insect cells by expressing only the VP2 subunit (Yuan &
Parrish, 2001).
Search WWH ::
Custom Search