Non-primate lentiviral vectors

Feline and equine lentivirus-derived vector systems are yielding impressive preclinical results in tissue culture, animal and ex vivo human organ models. Improved basic scientific understanding of lentiviral life cycles is facilitating development of these vectors, and initial systems based on other lentiviruses have been constructed. In addition to further engineering of the individual platforms for safety and efficacy, important goals for the field are to compare different lentiviral vector systems rigorously in specific human targets, and to derive clinical grade packaging/producer cell lines. Further progress in fundamental virology will be critical. Species-specific lentiviral restriction has recently emerged as a dynamic subject relevant to lentiviral pathogenesis research and lentiviral vector-based gene therapy. This review summarizes recent results in this growing field and discusses elements of an agenda for furthering application of these vectors to human gene therapy.