Viral vectors

Viral vectors are virus particles used in genetic engineering to introduce genetic material into target cells. These can be cells of a living organism or cells of a cell culture. The transport of DNA into a cell using a virus is called transduction, and the cells carrying such DNA are called transduced cells. Viral vectors are used in basic research and gene therapy. Vaccines based on viral vectors are also already in use. The technique of viral vectors was first used in the 1970s and has been continuously developed since then. Viral vectors, unlike virus-like particles (VLP) or liposomes containing viral membrane proteins (virosomes), contain a nucleic acid to be delivered. This nucleic acid is then either transiently read until it is degraded, or it is present as an episome in the nucleus next to the genome, or it is permanently integrated into the genome.