**12. The use of adenoviruses as vectors for gene therapy**

The promise of using adenoviruses as vectors is due to the fact that a relatively large fragment can be inserted into their linear DNA. With the advent of second-generation vectors, it became possible to embed foreign DNA sequences up to 35 kb in the adenovirus genome, while maintaining only inverted repeats and packaging site. In addition, adenovirus receptors (e.g., termination of the fibers) can be genetically modified in such a way as to increase the tropism of the virus in relation to the tumor tissue. As a product of the transgene, which allows to destroy a tumor, you can use the herpes virus thymidine kinase (family *Herpesviridae*) or the chicken anemia virus apoptin (family *Circoviridae*). In the first case, the patient is prescribed of acyclovir; in the second case, the tumor is destroyed as a result of vector-induced apoptosis. Unfortunately, genetically engineered constructions based on adenoviral vectors have not yet found clinical application, since due to the use of multiple mechanisms by the virus for penetration into target cells, it is not possible to achieve selective delivery of vectors to cancer cells [34, 35].

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