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Viruses Dec 2021Retroviruses have a very complex and tightly controlled life cycle which has been studied intensely for decades. After a virus enters the cell, it reverse-transcribes... (Review)
Review
Retroviruses have a very complex and tightly controlled life cycle which has been studied intensely for decades. After a virus enters the cell, it reverse-transcribes its genome, which is then integrated into the host genome, and subsequently all structural and regulatory proteins are transcribed and translated. The proteins, along with the viral genome, assemble into a new virion, which buds off the host cell and matures into a newly infectious virion. If any one of these steps are faulty, the virus cannot produce infectious viral progeny. Recent advances in structural and molecular techniques have made it possible to better understand this class of viruses, including details about how they regulate and coordinate the different steps of the virus life cycle. In this review we summarize the molecular analysis of the assembly and maturation steps of the life cycle by providing an overview on structural and biochemical studies to understand these processes. We also outline the differences between various retrovirus families with regards to these processes.
Topics: Capsid; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Genome, Viral; HIV-1; Humans; Models, Molecular; Retroviridae; Virion; Virus Assembly
PubMed: 35062258
DOI: 10.3390/v14010054 -
BioEssays : News and Reviews in... Dec 1988
Review
Topics: DNA Transposable Elements; Genes, Viral; Humans; Retroviridae
PubMed: 2853942
DOI: 10.1002/bies.950090603 -
The Journal of Gene Medicine Feb 2004Retroviral vectors have actively contributed to the advent of gene therapy as a realistic approach in human therapeutics. At the beginning, the use of retroviral vectors... (Review)
Review
Retroviral vectors have actively contributed to the advent of gene therapy as a realistic approach in human therapeutics. At the beginning, the use of retroviral vectors was thought to be as simple as the collection of a viral supernatant that was applied to the desired cell. Rapidly, target resistance to transduction appeared in various conditions, ex vivo as well as in vivo. At that time, retrovectorologists entered an active "back to the bench" era. This phase was thought to have reached its conclusion with the generation of theoretically safe lentiviral vectors and when, in 2000, a first clinical trial using retroviral vectors proved to be successful. Unfortunately, recent developments have shown that we still need to improve our knowledge of several steps in the retroviral life cycle before we can accurately adapt vectors to target specific cells. In this review we will first briefly detail key features of the life cycle of wild-type retroviruses. Thereafter, an overview of the minimal requirements needed to generate retroviral vectors will be followed by the relevant developments in this rapidly moving field. Of note, we have highlighted the crucial biosafety issues in a specific section.
Topics: Animals; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Mutagenesis, Insertional; Retroviridae; Safety
PubMed: 14978752
DOI: 10.1002/jgm.498 -
Biochemical Society Transactions Nov 1991
Review
Topics: Gene Products, gag; Genetic Vectors; RNA, Viral; Retroviridae; Viral Proteins; Virus Replication
PubMed: 1794592
DOI: 10.1042/bst0190963 -
Retrovirology Feb 2018Cryo-electron microscopy has undergone a revolution in recent years and it has contributed significantly to a number of different areas in biological research. In this... (Review)
Review
Cryo-electron microscopy has undergone a revolution in recent years and it has contributed significantly to a number of different areas in biological research. In this manuscript, we will describe some of the recent advancements in cryo-electron microscopy focussing on the advantages that this technique can bring rather than on the technology. We will then conclude discussing how the field of retrovirology has benefited from cryo-electron microscopy.
Topics: Animals; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Retroviridae; Virion
PubMed: 29471854
DOI: 10.1186/s12977-018-0405-6 -
Virology May 2015Many important aspects of human retroviral infections cannot be fully evaluated using only in vitro systems or unmodified animal models. An alternative approach involves... (Review)
Review
Many important aspects of human retroviral infections cannot be fully evaluated using only in vitro systems or unmodified animal models. An alternative approach involves the use of humanized mice, which consist of immunodeficient mice that have been transplanted with human cells and/or tissues. Certain humanized mouse models can support robust infection with human retroviruses including different strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV). These models have provided wide-ranging insights into retroviral biology, including detailed information on primary infection, in vivo replication and pathogenesis, latent/persistent reservoir formation, and novel therapeutic interventions. Here we describe the humanized mouse models that are most commonly utilized to study retroviral infections, and outline some of the important discoveries that these models have produced during several decades of intensive research.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Mice, SCID; Retroviridae; Retroviridae Infections; Virus Latency; Virus Replication
PubMed: 25680625
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.01.017 -
Current Gene Therapy Dec 2010Retroviral vectors are presently amongst the most widely used vectors in gene therapy clinical trials to target pathologies of different origins, such as cancers,... (Review)
Review
Retroviral vectors are presently amongst the most widely used vectors in gene therapy clinical trials to target pathologies of different origins, such as cancers, genetic diseases or neurological disorders. This review provides an overview on the evolution of retroviral vector design and production for gene therapy applications, including state of the art developments in flexible producer cells and safe vectors. In addition, production and purification processes will be addressed, with a particular focus on the improvements undertaken to increase vector productivity and to reduce the rapid loss of infectivity, which presently represent the main challenges in retroviral vectors production for gene therapy.
Topics: Animals; Genetic Therapy; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Retroviridae
PubMed: 21054246
DOI: 10.2174/156652310793797739 -
Kokubyo Gakkai Zasshi. the Journal of... Dec 1985
Review
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Base Sequence; Humans; Oncogenes; Retroviridae; Translocation, Genetic
PubMed: 3913723
DOI: 10.5357/koubyou.52.607 -
Nature Reviews. Microbiology Feb 2007All replication-competent retroviruses contain three main reading frames, gag, pol and env, which are used for the synthesis of structural proteins, enzymes and envelope... (Review)
Review
All replication-competent retroviruses contain three main reading frames, gag, pol and env, which are used for the synthesis of structural proteins, enzymes and envelope proteins respectively. Complex retroviruses, such as lentiviruses, also code for regulatory and accessory proteins that have essential roles in viral replication. The concerted expression of these genes ensures the efficient polypeptide production required for the assembly and release of new infectious progeny virions. Retroviral protein synthesis takes place in the cytoplasm and depends exclusively on the translational machinery of the host infected cell. Therefore, not surprisingly, retroviruses have developed RNA structures and strategies to promote robust and efficient expression of viral proteins in a competitive cellular environment.
Topics: Animals; Eukaryotic Cells; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; Humans; Protein Biosynthesis; RNA, Viral; Retroviridae; Viral Proteins; Virus Replication
PubMed: 17224922
DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro1599 -
Folia Biologica 2004
Review
Topics: Animals; Genetic Vectors; Humans; Retroviridae; Virus Replication
PubMed: 15373344
DOI: No ID Found