What biosafety level is lentivirus?
BSL-2
Summary
| Agent Type | Risk Group | Biosafety Level |
|---|---|---|
| Viral Vector | RG-3 | BSL-2 |
Why is lentivirus a good vector?
Lentiviral Vectors They combine the advantages of midrange cloning capacity with stable gene expression. They are able to transduce dividing and non-dividing cells, including neurons, integrate transgenes into the host genome, and promote long-term gene expression (Jakobsson and Lundberg, 2006).
Is lentivirus a BSL-2?
Typically, lentiviral vectors may be safely handled using either BSL-2 or BSL-2 enhanced controls depending upon the risk assessment.
How do you store lentivirus?
Storage of Lentivirus Virus can be stored at 4°C for a short time (less than a week) before using after reception. Since Lentiviruses are sensitive to freeze-thawing and the titer drops with repeated freeze-thawing, aliquot viral stock should be stored at – 80°C freezer immediately upon arrival for long-term usage.
How long does lentivirus survive in culture?
In our experiments, the half-life of VSV-G-pseudotyped lentiviral vector particles is around 35 h.
How do you dispose of AAV?
o Dispose of viral stock by autoclaving at 121°C for 30-45 minutes. Dispose of infected liquid cultures by decontamination with chlorine bleach (10% f.c.) for 10 minutes and then dispose of in sink. o Dispose of infected animal carcasses or tissues by incineration. o Dispose of in accordance with local regulations.
What are the ethical concerns regarding gene therapy?
The ethical questions surrounding gene therapy and genome editing include: How can “good” and “bad” uses of these technologies be distinguished? Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder? Will the high costs of gene therapy make it available only to the wealthy?
What is the most common fatal genetic disease in the United States?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic disease in the United States today.
How safe are lentiviral vectors?
As technology advanced and biosafety risks were discovered, newer generations of lentiviral vectors with enhanced safety features were designed. These generations are described in the next paragraphs, with the understanding that “the higher the generation, the safer the vector”.
What are the safety features of a viral vector system?
Viral vector systems have been developed with enhanced safety features as described above. Resulting particles are replication-incompetent and deletion in the U3 portion of the 3’ LTR eliminates the promoter-enhancer region, further negating the possibility of viral replication.
What is the best disinfection method for lentiviral vectors?
2% Jodopax, sodium hypochlorite, iodine and phenolic disinfectants are the preferred methods of disinfection when working with lentiviral vectors. Containment Level Though the parent virus for most lentiviral vectors belongs to risk group 3 (e.g., HIV), BSL-2 or BSL-2+ practices are commonly used for such work.
Can lentiviral vectors be pseudotyped with a murine ecotropic envelope?
For transfection of murine cells, lentiviral vectors can be pseudotyped with a murine ecotropic envelope, which would eliminate the exposure risk in humans. Lentiviral Vector Construction