Biopolymers and cell. 1997; 13 (1): 5 - 13

Usage of retrovirus vectors for gene transfer into birds

I. V. Kaida, A. V. Rynditch

Retroviral vectors are used for the transfer of new genes into the birds genome by infecting their embryos. However, the efficiency of such transfer is relatively not very high (0.01—0.2 % for embryos). The efficiency can be increased by including the tissue specific promoters into retroviral vectors. The matching GC-content of the vector and transporting gene should be taken into consideration as such matching might influence the transcription of integrated transporting gene. Another way of increasing the efficiency is connected with gene transportation into the specific target cells with pseudotiping vectors with modified envelope corresponding only to the certain type of cell receptors.