HERPESVIRUS VECTORS FOR GENE-TRANSFER

Vectors derived from herpes simplex virus, either virus-derived (recombinant virus) or plasmid-derived (amplicons) provide a means of gene delivery to mammalian post-mitotic cells. They arc being employed : (a) to explore neural networks ; (b) to define and to evaluate the state of neuronal promoter elements ; (c) to alter cellular physiology by inducing the expression of a modified protein or of a protein that is normally absent in a particular cell type ; and (d) to effect gene replacement, either in vitro or in vivo. HSV-1 vectors will probably also prove useful for other cell types. However, further progress in the understanding of viral pathogenesis, in the suppression of viral toxicity and in the control of the expression of the delivered gene is still required, before these vectors could be safely employed in human gene therapy protocols.