Chapter 5. Adenoviral Vectors

Summary

Adenoviral vectors are among the most promising gene transfer vehicles for the in vivo treatment of a range of human diseases, e.g. cystic fibrosis and haemophilia. They have also been used for ex vivo therapies. Adenoviruses can infect a wide spectrum of cell types, including quiescent cells. Replication-deficient vectors can be produced easily and at high titres, but transgene expression is transient, often lasting less than one month. Adenoviruses have been used in live vaccines with no association with any type of tumour. The main disadvantage of adenoviral vectors is the stimulation of the host immune response, both cellular and humoral. Strategies to circumvent this include more extensive deletions and modified cell lines to propagate the vectors. First-generation adenoviral vectors may be applied where short-term expression and single dosing is adequate, such as cancer vaccine therapies. Improved gene transfer methods and more attenuated vectors might enable long-term gene therapy.