viral vector
Definition
A viral vector is a modified virus engineered to deliver genetic material into target cells for research, therapeutic, or biotechnology applications. The virus is rendered replication-defective while retaining its natural ability to infect cells and transfer DNA or RNA cargo. Common viral vectors include adeno-associated virus (AAV), lentivirus, adenovirus, and retrovirus, each with distinct tropism, cargo capacity, and integration properties. Viral vectors are essential tools in gene therapy, vaccine development, optogenetics, and functional genomics studies. Their design involves removing pathogenic viral genes and inserting therapeutic genes or regulatory elements, enabling precise genetic manipulation in vitro and in vivo with high transduction efficiency.
Visualize viral vector in Nodes Bio
Researchers can map viral vector engineering workflows as networks showing relationships between vector components, target genes, and cellular pathways. Visualize tropism patterns by connecting vector serotypes to tissue types and cell surface receptors. Network analysis can reveal off-target effects, immune response pathways triggered by different vectors, and optimize vector selection by mapping transduction efficiency data across experimental conditions and cell types.
Visualization Ideas:
- Vector component networks showing capsid proteins, promoters, and transgene cassettes
- Tropism maps connecting viral serotypes to tissue types and cell surface receptors
- Comparative transduction efficiency networks across vector types and target cell populations
Example Use Case
A gene therapy team developing an AAV-based treatment for retinal degeneration needs to select the optimal serotype for photoreceptor targeting. They generate network maps connecting AAV serotypes (AAV2, AAV5, AAV8) to retinal cell types, transduction efficiency data, and immune response markers from preclinical studies. By visualizing capsid protein interactions with cellular receptors and downstream signaling cascades, they identify AAV5 as having superior specificity for cone photoreceptors with minimal inflammatory response, accelerating their therapeutic candidate selection.