Matía A, Lorenzo MM, Blasco R. Tools for the targeted genetic modification of poxvirus genomes.
Curr Opin Virol 2020;
44:183-190. [PMID:
33242829 DOI:
10.1016/j.coviro.2020.10.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The potential of viruses as biotechnology platforms is becoming more appealing due to technological advances in synthetic biology techniques and to the increasing accessibility of means to manipulate virus genomes. Among viral systems, poxviruses, and their prototype member Vaccinia Virus, are one of the outstanding choices for different biotechnological and medical applications based on heterologous gene expression, recombinant vaccines or oncolytic viruses. The refinement of genetic engineering methods on Vaccinia Virus over the last decades have contributed to facilitate the manipulation of the genomes of poxviruses, and may aid in the improvement of virus variants designed for different goals through reverse genetic approaches. Targeted genetic changes are usually performed by homologous recombination with the viral genome. In addition to the classic approach, recent methodological advances that may assist new strategies for the mutation or edition of poxvirus genomes are reviewed.
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