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Adenovirus vector system: construction, history and therapeutic applications

    Anum Syyam

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Amjad Nawaz

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Aroosa Ijaz

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Umar Sajjad

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Anila Fazil

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Sofia Irfan

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Aleeha Muzaffar

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Muhammad Shahid

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Muhammad Idrees

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    ,
    Kausar Malik

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    &
    Samia Afzal

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: samiaraza@live.com

    Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases, Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-Pakistan

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2144/btn-2022-0051

    Since the isolation of adenovirus (AdV) in 1953, AdVs have been used as vectors for various therapeutic purposes, such as gene therapy in cancers and other malignancies, vaccine development and delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 machinery. Over the years, several AdV vector modifications have been introduced, including fiber switching, incorporation of ligands in the viral capsid and hexon modification of the fiber, to improve the efficiency of AdV as a vector. CRISPR-Cas9 has recently been used for these modifications and is also used in other adeno-associated viruses. These modifications further allow the production of AdV libraries that display random peptides for the production of cancer-targeting AdV vectors. This review focuses on the common methods of AdV construction, changes in AdV tropism for the improvement of therapeutic efficiency and the role of AdV vectors in gene therapy, vaccine development and CRISPR-Cas9 delivery.

    TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

    Adenovirus vectors have been used for vaccine development, gene therapy and delivery of the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Several modifications have been introduced to enhance the efficacy of AdV vectors for genome editing and cancer therapy, including fiber switching, incorporation of ligands in the viral capsid and hexon modification of the fiber.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest

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