Characterization of the gene delivery properties of baculoviral-based virosomal vectors

The current study reports the production of baculoviral–virosomal vectors consisting of lipoplexes and of the viral glycoprotein (GP64) of baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhdrovirus (AcMNPV). This study demonstrates that such complexes have an increased transfection capability in a number of cells, including undifferentiated H9 human embryonic stem H9hES cells compared to lipoplexes alone. The GP64-mediated enhancement of gene transfer of lipoplexes is inhibited by the addition of anti-GP64 neutralizing antibody and by a modified GP64 protein, but is however less potent than vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G)-mediated enhancement of gene transfer of lipoplexes. This difference may be explained in part by the dissimilarity in the fusogenic properties of their respective viral glycoprotein.