INTEGRATION AND EXPRESSION OF ALU-BASED R ETROVIRAL VECTORS IN THE AVIAN EMBRYO - MEANINGS FOR CELL LINEAGE AND IN-VIVO GENE-TRANSFER

Retroviruses are, until now, the only efficient method to transfer gen es in birds. However, little is known about their integration and expr ession patterns in the embryo. Embryos were infected with lacZ carryin g non-replicative retroviral vectors. Integration and expression patte rns appeared strongly correlated in the heart and the skin while they did not coincide for the liver and stomach. We used different viral su bgroups. The A subgroup infects both chick and quail while the B and E are efficient only in chick and quail respectively. These results are discussed in relation with different studies aiming to study either c ell lineages or transgenesis in birds.