Lentivirus Packaging
Lentiviruses are grouped in a genus within the family Retroviridae. The name derives from the Latin word "lenti" which means slow, alluding to the long incubation period of the disease, which, in most cases, lasts years. It is a single-stranded RNA virus and is developed as a viral vector based on the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1).
As a commonly used gene delivery tool, the toxic genes of lentivirus have been removed and replaced with exogenous genes of interest. Unlike typical retroviruses, lentivirus can not only infect dividing cells but also non-dividing cells. They possess the ability to integrate exogenous genes into the host genome, enabling long-term and stable expression. Lentiviruses are frequently used for constructing stable cell lines and clinical immunotherapy and are an effective tool for both in vitro and in vivo gene delivery.
Products and Services
uBriGene offers a wide range of products and services related to lentiviruses. This includes pre-made lentiviral vectors containing various fluorescent proteins such as GFP, RFP, and mCherry, as well as functional genes like CRE recombinase, autophagy markers, and viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox virus. We also provide advanced lentiviral packing services tailored for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC lentivirus) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T lentivirus) applications.
In addition to these pre-made viruses, uBriGene leverages established lentiviral packaging technology to provide customers with small-scale preparations for in vitro and in vivo research, as well as large-scale cGMP production for clinical applications. uBriGene covers custom virus packaging services, including gene overexpression, interference, knockout, and fluorescent virus, catering to specific needs at different stages of research or therapy.
Our lentivirus helper plasmids have received DMF registration, and uBriGene’s lentiviruses are known for their high titer and low impurity characteristics as a result of advanced column chromatography purification. Furthermore, uBriGene offers screening and testing services for stable cell lines, tailored to customer project requirements. uBriGene can meet various applications in both research and clinical gene therapy fields.
Services | Packaging Specifications | Turn Around Time and Quotation |
|---|---|---|
Gene Overexpression - Lentivirus | 1E8/1E9/5E9 IU and more | |
shRNA - Interference Lentivirus | 1E8/1E9/5E9 IU and more | |
CRISPR/gRNA - Lentivirus | 1E8/1E9/5E9 IU and more | |
Stable Cell Line Screening | 2E6 cells |
Lentivirus Structure
Lentiviruses have a diameter ranging from 80 to 120 nm and exhibit an icosahedral symmetrical structure, appearing spherical in shape. The outermost layer of the virus particle is the envelope, with envelope proteins determining the type of cells it can infect. Moving inward, you'll find the matrix protein and the capsid. At the innermost core are two identical sense RNA strands and enzymes (reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease).
Lentivirus Structure
（de Pablo-Maiso, L et al., Viruses. 2018）
Lentivirus Genome
Lentiviruses possess a complex genome, with long terminal repeat sequences (LTRs) at both ends. In between, there are three structural genes: gag, pol, and env, along with six regulatory genes: tat, rev, nef, vif, vpr, and vpu. Among these, the gag gene encodes core viral proteins such as the nucleocapsid protein, matrix protein, and capsid protein. The pol gene encodes enzymes essential for viral replication, and the env gene encodes viral envelope glycoproteins. The six regulatory genes are indispensable for viral packaging and regulation.
Characteristics of Lentiviruses
Broad Host Range: Lentiviruses can effectively infect both dividing and non-dividing cells, making them particularly suitable for challenging-to-transfect cells, such as primary cells and stem cells. This significantly enhances the gene transduction efficiency.
Suitable for Establishing Stable Cell Lines: Lentiviruses can efficiently integrate exogenous genes into the host chromosome, mediating long-term and stable expression of the target genes. This property is advantageous for creating stable cell lines with the desired genetic modifications.
Comprehensive Applications: Lentiviruses are not limited to in vitro experiments but can also be applied in in vivo animal models, especially in animal tumor experiments. This versatility allows researchers to use lentiviruses in a wide range of experimental settings.
Service Work-Flow
