For Applications in Gene Therapy,what is the Most Favorable Characteristic

Question

For applications in gene therapy,what is the most favorable characteristic of retroviruses?
A)Retroviruses have an RNA genome.
B)Retroviruses possess reverse transcriptase.
C)DNA copies of retroviral genomes become integrated into the genome of the infected cell.
D)Retroviruses mutate often.
E)Retroviruses are not immunogenic.

Accepted Answer

The most favorable characteristic of retroviruses for gene therapy is that DNA copies of retroviral genomes become integrated into the genome of the infected cell, providing stable and long-lasting gene expression. This is important for gene therapy, as it is necessary for the introduced gene to be expressed in the cells for it to have a therapeutic effect. Retroviruses achieve this by using reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA genome into DNA, which can then be integrated into the host cell's DNA. While retroviruses are also immunogenic, this can be addressed through various strategies such as using non-viral vectors or modifying the retroviral vector to reduce immune responses.