SR-Tiget-led team boosts ‘don’t eat me’ signals on viral vectors to improve efficacy

Boosting surface levels of a "don't eat me" signal on lentiviral vectors could enable administration of lower gene therapy doses and prevent immune responses by shielding the vectors from phagocytosis.

HIV-derived lentiviral gene therapy vectors integrate into the host genome, offering the possibility of longer-lasting gene expression than adeno-associated viral vectors. But high systemic doses have led to acute toxicity in dogs while low doses compromise efficacy. Both issues stem from liver and spleen phagocytosis of the virions, which clears the therapy from circulation and triggers immune activation...