Advancements of Recombinant Adenoviral Vectors in Preclinical and Clinical Applications

Laura Gerdtz^*
*Correspondence: Laura Gerdtz, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy, Email:

Introduction

Adenoviral vectors have emerged as potent tools for gene therapy and vaccine development due to their efficient gene delivery capabilities and robust immunogenicity. Among various types of viral vectors, recombinant adenoviral vectors hold a significant position owing to their ability to induce strong cellular and humoral immune responses. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in harnessing the potential of recombinant adenoviral vectors for preclinical and clinical applications. This article delves into the recent progress, challenges, and future prospects in utilizing recombinant adenoviral vectors in gene therapy and vaccine development [1]. Adenoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses with a large genome size, making them suitable for accommodating foreign genes. Recombinant adenoviral vectors are generated by deleting essential viral genes and replacing them with therapeutic or antigenic genes. Adenoviral vectors possess several advantages, including high transduction efficiency, broad tropism, and the ability to induce robust immune responses [2].

Recombinant adenoviral vectors have been extensively studied for their potential in treating various genetic disorders, including cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and cancer. Adenoviral vectors are used to deliver therapeutic genes, such as tumor suppressors or suicide genes, directly into cancer cells to induce cell death or inhibit tumor growth. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of adenoviral vectors in delivering therapeutic genes to the central nervous system for the treatment of neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease [3].

Description

Recombinant adenoviral vectors serve as promising platforms for vaccine development against infectious diseases, including influenza, HIV, Ebola, and COVID-19. Clinical trials utilizing adenoviral vectors for gene replacement therapy have shown promising results in treating inherited genetic disorders, such as hemophilia and Leber's congenital amaurosis. Adoptive T-cell therapy using adenoviral vectors to engineer T cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T cells) has emerged as a promising approach for cancer immunotherapy. Advances in molecular biology techniques have enabled the development of next-generation adenoviral vectors with improved safety profiles and enhanced transduction efficiency. Genetic modifications of adenoviral capsid proteins have been explored to retarget vectors towards specific cell types or tissues, thereby enhancing their therapeutic efficacy and reducing off-target effects [4].

Strategies to evade host immune responses, such as shielding vector surface proteins or incorporating immunomodulatory genes, have been employed to prolong vector persistence and enhance therapeutic outcomes. The immunogenicity of adenoviral vectors can limit their efficacy and pose safety concerns, particularly in repeated dosing or immune-compromised individuals. Strategies to mitigate vector immunogenicity while maintaining therapeutic efficacy are under investigation. Adenoviral vectors may elicit cytotoxic effects or induce inflammatory responses, necessitating the optimization of vector dosing and delivery methods to minimize adverse effects. Although adenoviral vectors predominantly remain episomal in host cells, integration events have been reported, raising concerns regarding potential genotoxicity. Further studies are required to assess the long-term safety of adenoviral vectormediated gene transfer [5].

Conclusion

Recombinant adenoviral vectors represent versatile tools with broad applications in gene therapy and vaccine development. Recent advancements in vector design, coupled with ongoing preclinical and clinical studies, underscore their potential for addressing unmet medical needs and combating various diseases. However, challenges such as immunogenicity, vector toxicity, and genotoxicity must be addressed to maximize the therapeutic benefits of adenoviral vectors. With continued research efforts and technological innovations, recombinant adenoviral vectors hold promise for revolutionizing the field of molecular medicine in the coming years.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References

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