Viral Delivery Guide: Choose The Right Viral Vector For Your Research

Transfection, the introduction of foreign DNA or RNA into eukaryotic cells, is an indispensable tool for studying gene expression and function. Classical transfection strategies rely on chemical or physical methods to transiently destabilize the cell membrane to allow for uptake of exogenous genetic material. While these methods are easy to use, they are not always desirable or practical as it can be damaging to cells and some cell types are difficult or impossible to transfect. A more refined method that overcomes this issue utilizes one of the most highly evolved and efficient delivery systems found in nature: viruses.

Recombinant viruses are exceptionally powerful tools that can be used to overexpress, silence, and even edit genes. However, it is important to know which tool is right for the job when planning experiments as each viral delivery system has a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. We designed this guide to help researchers decide which of the three most popular recombinant viruses, AAV, adenovirus, or lentivirus, will work best for their specific applications.