HIV-2 and SIV vector systems.

Abstract

Lentiviral vectors have received much attention in recent years due to their ability to efficiently transduce non-dividing cells. Of the lentiviruses HIV-2 and SIV offer several unique benefits as the basis for lentiviral vector design. HIV-1, HIV-2 and SIV remain the only known primate lentiviruses, and consequently are among the most extensively studied viruses known. Substantial effort has been devoted towards identifying the pathogenic determinants of the primate lentiviruses and towards understanding their replication within primates. Of the primate lentiviruses, the pathogenicity and rates of transmission of HIV-2 and SIV fall far below that of HIV-1, potentially providing vectors based upon HIV-2/SIV with a greater degree of biosafety. Last, and perhaps most importantly, HIV-2 and SIV are viruses which may be studied within non-human primate models susceptible to AIDS-like disease, making vectors based upon these viruses accessible to substantial preclinical evaluation. We approach this Chapter presenting information regarding the basic biology of HIV-2 and SIV and conclude by pointing to how unique features of HIV-2 and SIV are well suited to vector design, hoping to leave the reader with a greater appreciation of the potential these viruses offer within the field of gene transfer applications.