What is a potential advantage of using adenovirus as a vector for gene therapy?

Using adenovirus as a vector for gene therapy has the significant advantage of being effective in delivering larger pieces of DNA. Adenoviruses can accommodate relatively large DNA sequences compared to many other viral vectors, allowing them to carry therapeutic genes that may be essential for treating various genetic disorders or diseases. This capability makes adenoviruses particularly useful in gene therapy applications where larger genes or multiple genes need to be delivered simultaneously.

In contrast, adenoviruses do not integrate into the host genome, which is a feature more typical of other viral vectors such as lentiviruses. Instead, adenoviruses typically remain extra-chromosomal, which means that the therapeutic effects may only last as long as the virus is present in the cell. While they are not known for their ability to remain permanently in the body, they efficiently target a range of cell types, including both dividing and non-dividing cells, but their advantage lies prominently in their capacity for larger DNA payloads.