Viral vectors are tools used to deliver genetic material into cells. This procedure can be performed inside a living organism (in vivo) or in cell culture (in vitro). Viruses have evolved specific systems for transporting their genomes inside the cells they infect. Modified viruses are used as viral vectors (or 'carriers') in gene therapy to shield the new gene from degradation while delivering it to the "gene cassette" in target cells. The delivery of genes or other genetic material by a vector is referred to as transduction, and the infected cells are referred to as transduced.
Viral vectors successfully persuade target cells to take the new gene, remove it from the virus particle, and transport it to the cell nucleus. Viral vectors can be used in gene therapy to transmit functional genes to replace defective genes and cure genetic disorders. Viral vectors can be used as a vaccine platform to express and deliver pathogenic antigens in order to stimulate an immune response by mimicking a natural infection. Viral vectors can also be used to specifically target and kill tumour cells in oncolytic therapies.
There are various types of viral vectors that can be used to carry nucleic acids into the genetic makeup of cells, including retrovirus, lentivirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and herpes simplex virus each having their own set of benefits and drawbacks for certain applications.
Share this page on your timeline
ALSO READ General Virology Antiviral Research Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 Medical Virology Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases Translational Virology in Pregnancy AIDS Research and Therapy Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Interferon and Cytokine Research Bacterial and Fungal Virology Cellular Microbiology Clinical and Diagnostic Virology Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS Pediatric Viral Infectious Diseases Tumour Virus Research Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases Viral Hepatitis Viral Immunology Viral Oncology Viral Vaccines Neuro Virology Gut Pathogens Insect Vector and Virus Epidemiology Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Food and Environmental Virology Animal Virology Viral Vectors Vaccines Virus-Cell, Virus-Microbe, and Virus-Host Interactions Gene Delivery Immune Responses and Viral Modulation of Immune Responses Viral Structure and Assembly Arboviruses Influenza Flu Zika Virus Staphylococcal Infection Tuberculosis West Nile Virus Herpes Ebola Dengue Plant and Agricultural Virology
Tags
Virology Meetings 2025
Microbiology Conferences
American Virology Meetings
European Congress on Virology
Medical Virology Meetings
Virology Conferences 2025
Ebola Conferences 2025
Virology Conferences 2025 USA
Pathology Conferences
Virology Conferences
Antiviral Research Meetings
Asian Virology Conferences
Vaccine Conferences and Meetings 2025