The Biochemistry of Gene Therapy for AIDS
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Andrea Savarino
Abstract
Gene therapy has enormous potential and could in the near future involve the clinical biochemist in monitoring its efficacy. The involvement of clinical biochemists in this field could be not only in evaluating the impact of a gene-based strategy on disease progression, but also in measuring the expression of the products of therapeutic genes in treated individuals. Indeed, gene therapy presents new possibilities for the treatment of many diseases and, in particular, merits consideration in the treatment of a fatal disease like AIDS. The aim of this paper is to review the biochemical basis and clinical relevance of the gene therapy approaches directed towards the inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type-1. We discuss the goals which have been achieved, the problems which have occurred and the efforts that are being made to solve them. In this regard, particular attention is paid to new strategies targeting ‘therapeutic’ enzymes to human immunodeficiency virus type-1 nucleic acids.
Copyright © 1998 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
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Articles in the same Issue
- The Biochemistry of Gene Therapy for AIDS
- Reticulocytes and Reticulated Platelets: Simultaneous Measurement in Whole Blood by Flow Cytometry
- Salivary Cortisol - an Alternative to Serum Cortisol Determinations in Dynamic Function Tests
- A Time-Resolved Fluorescence Immunoassay for the Measurement of Testosterone in Saliva: Monitoring of Testosterone Replacement Therapy with Testosterone Buciclate
- External Quality Assessment of Molecular Biology-Based Methods Used in Laboratories of Clinical Chemistry and Human Genetics
- Preoperative Values of Molecular Coagulation Markers Identify Patients at Low Risk for Intraoperative Haemostatic Disorders and Excessive Blood Loss
- Rifampicin Causes False-Positive Immunoassay Results for Urine Opiates
- Neuron-Specific Enolase: Reference Values in Cord Blood
- Additional Essential Criteria for Quality Systems of Medical Laboratories
- Low Concentration Monoclonal and Oligoclonal Bands in Serum and Urine Using the Sebia Hydragel Protein Electrophoresis System
