USE OF THE HERPES AMPLICON SYSTEM AS A VEHICLE FOR SOMATIC GENE-TRANSFER

The study of herpes virus biology has produced two vector delivery str ategies which exploit the highly evolved neuronal tropism and life cyc le regulation exhibited by this class of viruses. Amplicon and recombi nant herpes simplex virus systems show promise for use in gene transfe r to the nervous system and although neither Vector has been used in c linical trials to date, their application to gene delivery and perturb ation of neuronal physiology have been well established. We will revie w the properties of the herpes amplicon system, and demonstrate its ut ility in neuroscience applications. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.