Lentiviral vectors: excellent tools for experimental gene transfer and promising candidates for gene therapy

Lentiviral vectors are tools for gene transfer derived From lentiviruses. F rom their first application to now they have been strongly developed in des ign, in biosafety and in their ability of transgene expression into target cells. Primate and non-primate derived lentiviral vectors are now available and with both types of systems a lot of studies tuned to improve their per formances in a large number of tissues are ongoing. Here we review the stat e of the art of lentiviral Vector systems discussing their potential for ge ne therapy. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.