Simple methods for preparing recombinant adenoviruses for high-efficiency transduction of vascular cells.

Adenoviruses are icosahedral viruses 70-90 nm in diameter with a double-stranded, linear DNA genome of approx 36 kb. They are widely utilized in gene transfer protocols owing to their relative ease of genetic manipulation, ability to grow to high titres (10(9)-10(12) plaque forming units [pfu]/mL), and their ability to infect both dividing and nondividing cells efficiently. The latter reason makes them extremely suitable for investigations in vascular systems where the low proliferative indices of cells is a limiting factor for retroviral gene transfer.