Table 1.
Commonly used viral vectors in gene therapy
| Vector | Transfection capacity | Integration | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adenovirus | < 7.5 kb | None | Causes immune response, short-term expression |
| Adeno-associated virus (AAV) | < 4.5 kb | Low | Causes immune response |
| Alphavirus | < 7.5 kb | None | Short-term expression |
| Herpesvirus | > 30 kb | None | May cause immune response |
| Retrovirus | < 8 kb | High | Risk of insertional mutagenesis. Just infects dividing cells |
| Lentivirus | 8–10 kb | High | Risk of insertional mutagenesis |
| Vaccinia virus | 25 kb | None | Short-term expression |