Selection Marker neomycin

Although not as popular as the baculovirus-system, stable transformations of insect cells can be used to circumvent the problems mentioned in the last paragraph. Common hosts include the fruitfly and mosquito. The expressed genes are often under the control of the Drosophila metallothionein promoter. Genes coding for resistance to antibiotics such as hygromycin and neomycin are used as selection markers. 

Targeting vector A vector containing a positive selection marker (e.g., neomycin-resistance gene), negative selection marker (thymidine kinase gene) and a multiple cloning site. 

When a bacterial plasmid containing the neomycin selectable marker is used for cell transfection, most of the isolated clones contain each a unique integration site band (Talmadge and Zbar, 1987 Waghome et al., 1988). When the clones are pooled and grown together, and analyzed on a southern blot, a smear of bands... 

Retrovirus vectors were subjected to the first clinical trial on human gene therapy to correct adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency (32). White-blood cells isolated from patients were infected ex vivo with an MLV-based vector expressing ADA and a neomycin marker gene. After selection with G418, neomycin-resistant cells were isolated and reintroduced into patients. The treatment improved the physical condition of the patients and the ADA-containing provirus was stable in the blood for several years. 

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