Vector Technology

In molecular biology, a vector is a virus or a plasmid that carries a piece of foreign (treatment) DNA to a host cell, to accomplish insertion, deletion, replacement, exchange or silencing of the host gene. Desirable vectors must be characterized with low toxicity, high stability and great specificity.

How vectors work? First, remove the genes in the virus that cause disease (e.g., SCID). Then, insert and replace the defective gene with therapeutic DNA encoded with desired effect. Keep the replacement genes in the host’s genome intact (e.g., not subject to mutation).