Dr. Yee's research is focused on designing vectors derived from lentiviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), to deliver genes into mammalian cells for possible treatment of human diseases. Lentiviral vectors can efficiently transduce proliferating, as well as quiescent cells, both in culture and in vivo. The viral genome integrates into host chromosomes, and the inserted gene can be maintained in the cells permanently. Since almost all viral genes are removed, up to 8-kb foreign DNA can be inserted into a lentiviral vector.
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