Advantages and disadvantages of Viral vectors?

Answer 1

disadvantages-

a gene can be delivered to a cell using a carrier known as a vector. the most common types of vectors used in gene therapy are viruses. the viruses are altered to make them safe, although some risks still exist with gene therapy.

Viruses can usually infect more than one type of cell. So, when viral vectors are used to carry genes into the body, they might infect healthy cells as well as cancer cells.

Another danger is that if the new gene is inserted in the wrong location in the DNA, it could cause harmful mutations to the DNA or even cancer. This has occurred in clinical trials for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) patients, in which hematopoietic stem cells were converted with a correct transgene using a retrovirus (a type of virus that contains RNA as its genetic material) and this led to the development of T cell leukaemia in 4 of 20 patients.

In addition, when viruses are used to deliver DNA to cells inside the patient's body, there is a slight chance that this DNA could unintentionally be introduced into the patient's reproductive cells. If this happens, it could produce changes that may be passed on if a patient has children after treatment.

Other concerns include the possibility that transferred genes could be overexpressed,producing so much of the missing proteinas to be harmful; that the viral vectorcould cause an immune reaction; and that the virus could be transmitted from the patient to other individuals or into the environment.

However, this basic mode of gene introduction currently shows much promise and doctors and scientists are working hard to fix any potential problems that could exist. They use animal testing and other precautions to identify and avoid these risks before any clinical trials are conducted in humans.