Lentiviruses are a subgroup of retroviruses that are able to infect non-dividing cells. They belong to the family Retroviridae and derive their name from the Latin word 'lentus' meaning slow, referring to their long incubation period. Some well-known lentiviruses include HIV, FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), and SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus). These viruses have the ability to integrate their genetic material into the host cell genome, allowing for long-term expression of viral genes. This unique ability to transduce non-dividing cells has made Lentivectors an attractive tool for gene delivery applications.

Development of Lentivectors

In the early 1990s, researchers first began developing lentiviral Vectors by removing viral genes responsible for pathogenicity and replacing them with therapeutic genes of interest. This allowed the vectors to retain their ability to efficiently transduce cells but rendered them safe for human therapy. Over the past few decades, major advances have been made to further improve the safety and efficacy of Lentivectors.

Key modifications included self-inactivating mutations that prevent viral gene expression and the use of different envelope proteins to alter tropism. Today, third generation Lentivectors are able to achieve high transduction efficiencies with minimal risks and are commonly used in both research and clinical applications.

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