Beyond retrovirus infection: HIV meets gene therapy

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is classified as a retrovirus because of its RNA genome and the fact that it requires reverse transcriptase to convert it into DNA. This virus belongs to the lentivirinae subfamily and is able to infect quiescent cells but is better known for its association with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and can be described as one of the most effective vectors for gene transfer. Biosafety concerns are present whenever viral vectors are employed but are particularly pertinent to the development of HIV-based vectors. Insertional mutagenesis and the production of new replication-competent viruses (RCV) have been pointed to as major problems, but experimental data have shown that safe protocols can be developed for their production and application. Virological, evolutionary, immunological and cell biology studies must be conducted jointly to allow the clinical use of HIV vectors. This review will focus on the general properties, production and applications of retrovectors in gene therapy, with particular emphasis on those based on HIV systems.

Perfil ePidemiológico dos Pacientes HiV-PositiVo cadastrados no municíPio de teresóPolis, rJ

“…A incidência do HIV/aids em maiores de 60 anos está aumentando, principalmente devido à introdução no mercado farmacêutico de medicamentos que melhoram o desempenho sexual, com consequente aumento do número de relações sexuais entre pessoas dessa faixa etária, aliado à ausência de uso da camisinha (19,20) . Outro fator que contribui para o aumento da disseminação do HIV nessa população é a sua crescente atuação na vida social, uma vez que estes estão participando mais de bailes e/ ou clubes de terceira idade (21) .…”

EpidEmiological profilE of HiV positiVE patiEnts rEgistErEd in tHE District of tErEsópolis, statE of rio dE JanEiro

“…The HIV/Aids incidence in this group of individuals is increasing, mainly due to the marketing of drugs that improve the sexual performance, with the consequent increase of sexual intercourses among people of this age group without the use of condom (19,20) . Another contributing factor for the HIV increased dissemination in this group is their growing role in social life, as they are more participative of senior events (21) .…”

An Overview of Methods and Tools for Transfection of Eukaryotic Cells in vitro

“…Retro-transcribed DNA can be integrated into the genome of the host cell with present enhancers and other regulatory elements that regulate the expression of viral genes. A successful infection or, in case of vectors, transduction always leads to a stable genetic modification of the host cell ( da Silva et al, 2006 ; Liao et al, 2017 ). This creates a major problem that has become a priority in retroviral development, i.e., integration of transduced genome can lead to deregulation of proto-oncogene expression and as such has long been known as a driver for retroviral genotoxicity ( Biasco et al, 2017 ).…”