A Multigene Lentiviral Vector System Based on Differential Splicing

Lentiviral vectors are promising tools for gene transfer (1 –4 ). Like oncoret-roviral vectors, they offer the unique advantage of stably integrating into the genome of the host cell, thus providing the basis for sustained gene expression. In contrast to the classical oncoretrovirus derived vectors, lentiviral vectors are highly efficient at infection of nondividing cells because of the presence of nuclear localization signals on several virion associated proteins, which include matrix (MA), viral protein R (VPR), and integrase (IN) in the case of human immunodeficiency virus type-one (HIV-1) (5 ).